Philadelphia Weather: Heavy Rain Soaks City, Disrupts Friday Evening Commutes
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Heavy rain and thunderstorms moved through the area Friday afternoon. The storms drenched Center City and some didn't have time to adequately take cover in Center City.
The storms passed through quickly enough but brought enough gusto to derail Friday evening plans -- whether that be dining out or just trying to get home.
There were high hopes for the last Friday in August. On 18th Street from Locust to Walnut, the street was blocked off in the hopes of hosting outdoor dining. But chairs were pushed to the side after pounding rains provided and unwanted interlude.
The skies started looking a bit ominous by late afternoon. It was so dark by City Hall that it looked like night time.
Then, just before 5 p.m., the skies opened up. People were using the bus stop for cover.
The rain was so heavy and was blowing in every possible direction, sending people running for cover and slowing cars to a crawl.
Some people were prepared with umbrellas but that didn't really make a difference. If you were out here, you were definitely getting wet.
Near the intersection of B and Venango Streets in the city's Fairhill neighborhood, floodwaters caused by what appears to be trash clogging sewer drains caused some drivers to stall out, blocking others who risked the same by driving through dangerously high waters.
While things have mellowed out at Dilworth Park, the storms have delivered a slow commute home for drivers.
There was flash flooding reported on the Schuylkill Expressway in both directions between Girard and City Avenues. That had things backed up in both directions for miles and took some up to an hour to get in or out of the city.
Things are no easier coming to or from New Jersey, with all of the major bridges operating with speed restrictions due to the weather.
In Bucks County, riders of a SEPTA Regional Rail train had to be carried away by bus after a tree limb struck the train near the Chalfont Station. No one was injured by the limb did catch on wires and cut off power to the train.
CBS3's Alecia Reid and Alexandria Hoff contributed to this report.
