Severe thunderstorms swept through parts of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania on Friday, triggering flood warnings and widespread power outages, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Mount Holly. Locals and storm chasers took to social media to report intense rainfall, warning others about potential impacts.
PHI issues Severe Thunderstorm Warning [wind: 60 MPH (RADAR INDICATED), hail: <.75 IN (RADAR INDICATED)] for Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem [NJ] till Jul 25, 7:00 PM EDT https://t.co/n5e4WpnxZh pic.twitter.com/zBEZCt8fuW
— New Jersey Weather Center (@NewJersey_WX) July 25, 2025
Intense Storm Conditions
With wind gusts reaching 60 mph and frequent lightning strikes, the storms disrupted communities across Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset, Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester counties. Nearby areas in New York are preparing for similar impacts as the NWS issued multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, highlighting the urgent need for residents to seek shelter as the severe weather moves southeast.
The first warning was issued at 5:01 PM EDT and remains effective until 5:30 PM EDT for Montgomery, central Bucks, and northeastern Chester counties.
Radar and Storm Movement
Radar updates indicated a line of storms running from Pipersville to Paoli, moving at 50 mph. Reports from Norristown, Pottstown, Phoenixville, and Doylestown noted potential damage to roofs, siding, trees, and power lines.
A second warning, active until 5:15 PM EDT, covers southeastern Hunterdon, northwestern Mercer, southwestern Somerset, and northeastern Bucks, with the storm moving east at 40 mph, affecting areas like Somerville, Ewing, and New Hope.
Ongoing Flooding Concerns
Low-lying areas have already experienced flooding, with urban underpasses and streets in places like Lansdale and Bridgewater submerged.
“At 5:00 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Pipersville to near Dublin to near Schwenksville to near West Norriton to Paoli to near Downingtown, moving southeast at 50 mph. The strongest winds should occur ahead of any rain,” the NWS press release stated.
Power Outages and Warnings
According to Jersey Central Power & Light, over 7,015 residents were without power at the time of this report.
“A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island until 9 PM EDT,” the NWS announced on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
