Tornadoes Confirmed in Pennsylvania During Storm

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The National Weather Service has confirmed that tornadoes touched down in Bucks and Montgomery counties during Tuesday’s storm.

The weather service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said more details would be provided later such as the strength and exact location of the storms, which were among six that struck the region. Tornadoes also touched down in Ocean and Cape May counties in New Jersey, Kent and New Castle Counties in Delaware and Queen Anne’s County, Maryland.

In Bucks County on Tuesday, high winds partially tore the roof off a day care center on the grounds of a suburban Philadelphia hospital, injuring four children. Bucks County government officials said in a Twitter post that high winds around Doylestown Hospital partially tore the roof off the day care center at Children’s Village, a private preschool on the hospital grounds, and overturned and moved around vehicles in the parking lot.

Doylestown Health said four children and some staff members were treated for minor injuries, and all of the children were moved to a local middle school to reunite with family.

An eastern Pennsylvania coroner on Wednesday released the name of a woman who died after her vehicle was swept away by floodwaters. The Lehigh County coroner’s office said 44-year-old Yesenia Then of Allentown was pronounced dead just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday after her vehicle entered high water in Upper Saucon Township and was swept downstream. An autopsy is slated Thursday.

Tens of thousands of electric customers remained without power in the Philadelphia suburbs, with PECO reporting more than 55,000 customers without power in Chester County, more than 32,500 in Bucks County and more than 10,500 in Montgomery County

Regional rail service was suspended Wednesday in Philadelphia after the storm raised the Schuylkill River and sent an unsecured construction barge into a bridge. The barge came to a rest against the Vine Street Expressway Bridge. Inspectors were checking for damage.

The bridge is upstream from a SEPTA rail bridge at 30th Street. The commuter bus and rail agency said is suspended all regional rail service out of an abundance of caution until the barge was secured or crossed under the bridge. Interstate 676, which crosses the bridge, also was closed in both directions.