Power outages caused by Thursday's storms will take multiple days to restore, PECO says

Severe thunderstorms struck the Philadelphia region, causing significant power outages that impacted over 140,000 customers. PECO reported more than 2,000 active outages as crews work to restore service, which is expected to take multiple days. Wind gusts reached 70 mph, prompting tornado warnings in Chester and Delaware counties and resulting in downed trees that blocked city streets. A child suffered injuries from a tree strike and was taken to Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital, while a woman in Upper Darby was rescued after being trapped in her home. Although SEPTA has restored Regional Rail service, many trains faced delays on Friday morning.

The weather on Friday is anticipated to be calmer, with a high of 86 degrees, before an extreme heat watch is issued, warning of dangerously hot conditions from Monday to Wednesday. Residents are encouraged to stay hydrated, avoid excessive sun exposure, and check on neighbors during the heat wave. Local resources are available for reporting outages and accessing cooling centers during this period.