Power dampened, but Ernesto still a threat

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, September, 2006 | by Power dampened

Flood watches remain posted throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey as the remains of Ernesto surge northward. But it appears that the Philadelphia region might escape disaster. The National Weather Service forecast calls for 2 to 4 inches of rain, with up to 6 inches in some areas. Earlier, the forecast called for 4 to 6 inches regionwide, and as much as 10 in spots.

A stubborn cool, dry air mass delayed the onset of the heavy rain in the region. Plus, the storm was moving quickly, said Todd Miner, a meteorologist at Pennsylvania State University in State College, an area that evidently was in the direct path of the storm. Nevertheless, potential flooding along the Schuylkill and smaller streams continued to be a major concern, and Ernesto was having a significant effect on...