Lehigh Valley under flash flood, severe storm watch as Tropical Storm Elsa crawls up the coast
“The tropical headlines for our region remain unchanged at this time. We will continue to experience the calm before the storm,” National Weather Service science and operations officer Brian Haines wrote in a forecast discussion early Thursday morning.
That storm is Tropical Storm Elsa, expected to bring heavy rain to much of southeastern Pennsylvania, eastern Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. A tropical storm warning is in effect along the coast.
A flash flood watch remains in effect through Friday morning, with rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches expected on the coastal plain, with locally higher amounts up to 6 inches possible. West of the Interstate 95 corridor, including the Lehigh Valley, amounts should range from 1 to 2 inches, with locally higher amounts to 3 inches possible.
Empire Weather, which provides localized forecasts for The Morning Call, says the Lehigh Valley will be in between two main areas of lift — one to the north where a front indirectly “grabs” Elsa’s moisture, and one to the south with Elsa itself. It means we should be more dry than not today, with isolated showers and thunderstorms possible as moisture ahead of Elsa arrives during the afternoon hours.
The Storm Prediction Center has put the Lehigh Valley at a marginal risk of severe storms. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas for Thursday afternoon and evening.
The actual remnant low of Elsa will pass to our east overnight, according to the National Hurricane Center. Steady rain and thunder is expected, with some heavy rain as well, but the heaviest moisture should avoid our area.
We should briefly dry out on Friday morning, forecasters say, but a trailing disturbance will likely bring scattered showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rain late into the afternoon and evening.
An unsettled period for the end of the weekend and into next week is also anticipated, with showers and thunderstorms favored Sunday through Tuesday.
