What began as an oppressively hot Thursday turned into one of the most chaotic weather events the Philadelphia region has seen in recent months. Severe thunderstorms rolled through eastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas on June 19, bringing damaging winds, intense rainfall, lightning, and temporary tornado warnings. By the end of the night, hundreds of thousands of people across multiple counties were left without electricity, and emergency crews were responding to damage throughout the region.
Scorching Heat Sparks Dangerous Conditions
Thursday’s high temperatures pushed into the low 90s, with humidity levels making it feel even hotter. Many residents across Philadelphia, its suburbs, and parts of New Jersey were already under a heat alert by midday. By the afternoon, weather experts had issued a severe storm warning as an incoming cold front began to destabilize the atmosphere.
By 2 p.m., the storms were fully underway, prompting a First Alert weather status and warnings for extreme wind gusts, large hail, flash flooding, and isolated tornado activity. Around 5 p.m., official tornado warnings were activated for Chester County, Delaware County, and New Castle County in Delaware. Though those warnings were lifted within the hour, the storms had already begun causing significant disruption.
Massive Power Failures Across the Region
One of the most immediate impacts of the storm system was widespread power outages. PECO, the regional energy provider, reported over 240,000 customers without service at the height of the storm. As of Friday morning, tens of thousands remained without electricity:
- Montgomery County: 48,000+ customers still out
- Delaware County: Over 43,000 affected
- Bucks County: 42,000+ still without power
- Chester County: Nearly 30,000 impacted
- Philadelphia proper: Around 5,000 still in the dark
Outages extended into parts of southern New Jersey and northern Delaware as well, with smaller pockets of disruption reported in Atlantic City and across rural communities.
Trees Down, Roads Blocked, Families Shaken
Across the suburbs, fallen trees caused serious problems. In Blue Bell, a tree collapsed onto a car carrying a family. While the vehicle was badly damaged, no serious injuries were reported. In Westtown Township, residents described trees snapping and swirling in the wind during what some feared was tornado activity.
“We were packing up after getting the tornado alert, and suddenly the wind just roared through,” said local resident Joseph Stiroga. “Branches started flying. I saw treetops twisting and crashing down.”
In Chester County, a home caught fire during the storm. Officials say the blaze on Westbourne Road was likely linked to weather activity—possibly a lightning strike or downed power line. No one was home at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Hospital and Transit Systems Impacted
The storm even reached critical infrastructure. Jefferson Abington Hospital in Montgomery County experienced a partial power failure, with several operating rooms briefly affected. A hospital representative confirmed that emergency services remained active throughout and that full power was restored later that evening.
Public transportation systems were not spared either. SEPTA experienced delays and service disruptions across its rail and bus lines, as trees and debris blocked routes and power systems were interrupted.
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Events Cut Short as Weather Turns Violent
Thursday was also a day of celebration for many in the city, with Juneteenth festivities underway as part of the Wawa Welcome America event series. The block party in Center City was halted early when storms approached. Event organizers cleared the area just before 5:30 p.m. for safety reasons.
In Wildwood, New Jersey, the popular Barefoot Country Music Fest was also impacted. Attendees were evacuated after lightning was detected within close range of the concert site. Alerts were sent out quickly, and festival-goers were urged to seek shelter.
Cleanup and Recovery Begin
By Friday morning, calm had returned, and with it, a shift in the weather. The final day of spring brought lower humidity and sunshine—a much-needed break following Thursday’s chaos. Temperatures were expected to remain in the low to mid-80s as the summer solstice approached.
Cleanup operations are now in full swing across the region. Utility crews are working to restore power, while local authorities have warned residents to stay away from fallen wires and unstable structures. Many communities have begun clearing roadways and checking on vulnerable residents.
Safety Moving Forward
City officials and meteorologists are reminding the public to remain alert, especially as summer officially begins. With increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, residents are urged to stay prepared, keep emergency kits on hand, and follow updates via trusted sources.
For the latest alerts, storm tracking, and news updates, the NBC10 Philadelphia app remains a valuable tool for real-time information and safety notifications.
