Lower Bucks County residents are facing a complicated mix of weather hazards today as federal and regional agencies issued separate alerts warning of both torrential downpours and poor air quality.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has placed the region (on Saturday, July 18) under a Flash Flood Watch starting at 10:00 a.m. and lasting through late tonight. At the same time, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission officials are urging sensitive groups to limit their time outdoors due to stagnant, polluted air.
The Flood Threat
The watch comes as a series of heavy showers and fast-moving thunderstorms are projected to sweep through the region on Saturday afternoon and evening. According to meteorologists, these storms can produce rainfall amounts of two to three inches within one to two hours leading to flash flooding.
The NWS warns that excessive runoff will likely cause flooding of rivers, creeks and streams causing them to rise out of their banks. Motorists and residents should brace for sudden water accumulation in typical trouble spots: poor drainage zones, underpasses, and urban areas.
Emergency management officials remind drivers to never attempt to cross flooded roadways, as water depths can be highly deceptive, especially after dark.
NWS advises residents to monitor local radar updates and be prepared to take action if a formal Flash Flood Warning is issued in their area.
Air Quality: Code Orange
Compounding the stormy forecast, regional authorities has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Saturday across the Philadelphia metro area, including Bucks County.
NWS explains that a code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children…people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.
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