Travels With The Post

Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads

Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads

Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads
Accumulated tree limbs and other debris (at top and above) that fell into Sanatoga Creek ultimately blocked
a portion of two creek tunnels beneath the East High Street bridge in Lower Pottsgrove, near Sanatoga Road

POTTSTOWN PA – The severe rain and wind storm that hit southeastern Pennsylvania on Tuesday (Jan. 9, 2024) left debris-clogged streams, overflowing ponds, downed trees, and closed roads in its wake across western Montgomery, eastern Berks, and northern Chester counties.

Depending on location, between 2 and 4 inches of rain fell since the storm began Tuesday at about 10 a.m.

In western Montgomery County, federal weather experts declared a “hazardous weather outlook” through Wednesday (Jan. 10) at midnight, while acknowledging “a low probability of widespread hazardous weather.”

A wind advisory also remained in place for the area through Wednesday at 6 p.m. West winds of 20-25 miles were anticipated, but gusts were predicted to range up to 45 miles an hour, forecasters said.

Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads
Both Gabe’s and Roses department stores, in the Shoppes at Coventry plaza on Route 724 in North Coventry, were closed a portion of Wednesday. A sign at Gabe’s said its closure was due to a power outage. No signage was seen at Roses.

At the peak of the storm’s rage, with winds of up to more than 50 miles an hour, its effects caused thousands power outages for customers of PECO Energy, Metropolitan Edison, and PPL. As of Thursday (Jan. 11) at 4:30 a.m.:

  • PECO reported about 150 outages remained in western Montgomery and northern Chester county areas served by Travels With The Post;
  • Met-Ed reported about 45 outages within eastern Berks County; and
  • PPL reported fewer than 10 outages in the Souderton area.
Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads
A fallen birch tree rested Wednesday morning atop a wire and pole (above and below)
after it fell across Schaffer Road, about a quarter-mile north of Pruss Hill Road, in Lower Pottsgrove
Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads
Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads
As of Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., the road remained closed (above)

At greater Pottstown, and the Schuylkill River

Although the rain departed, the Philadelphia regional office of the National Weather Service left a flood warning for the Pottstown area, and several others, in place through Wednesday (Jan. 10) until 6 p.m. “Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues,” it said, simply.

Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads
Water gushed over the spillway at Pruss Hill Road pond (above),
and then sluiced down Sanatoga Creek toward the Schuylkill River (below)
Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads

The weather service added, in two separate warnings, that “minor flooding” of the Schuylkill River could be expected in Pottstown and across portions of Montgomery County until at least Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. A flood warning for the Schuylkill itself did not expire until Wednesday at midnight.

Pottstown officials, on the borough website, urged “residents in the area of Manatawny Street between High Street and Beech Street,” as well as “residents in the 0 to 99 blocks of King, Chestnut, Walnut, and Beech streets,” to exercise special caution due to flooding concerns.

At Collegeville, Schwenksville, and the Perkiomen Creek

Municipalities east of Pottstown fared less well, the weather service stated in a third separate warning, It said flooding in municipalities along the Perkiomen Creek – including Graterford, Schwenksville, and Collegeville – have already reached “moderate” levels. Many roads were under water and closed.

The Perkiomen River was expected to crest at 13.8 feet Wednesday morning, according to service forecasters, and then begin to recede. Its flood stage is 11.0 feet, they added, and noted current flooding in that area is comparable to the result of a storm that occurred June 21, 2003, when the water reached the same crest.

At Phoenixville, and the French Creek

Flooding impacts were expected to continue through Wednesday in the Phoenixville area, the weather service acknowledged, but no additional rainfall was expected there. Its measurement of the French Creek at Phoenixville on Wednesday morning was slightly above flood stage at 8.71 feet. Its flood stage is considered 8.0 feet.

Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads
No fishers were seen Wednesday morning at about 8:30 at Sanatoga Lake, the popular fishing
spot in Lower Pottsgrove’s Sanatoga Park. However the lake was full, and overflowing its spillway
Aftermath: Storm Debris, Pond Overflows, Closed Roads
The spillway is no place for adventure, or even a casual walk, as Lower Pottsgrove signs make clear.
These photos at the park were taken from about 20 feet away, using a long-distance camera lens

All photos by Travels With The Post