A severe storm ripped through South Philadelphia on Saturday leaving fallen trees, branches and power lines in its path.
The storm, which intensified shortly after 3 p.m., hit the Girard Estates neighborhood especially hard, causing significant damage to Stephen Girard Park and the surrounding areas.
Moments after the storm had passed, PECO had announced 18,387 out of 696,427 customers (2.6 percent) were without power. At 7 p.m., more than 31,273 customers in the Philadelphia area, including suburbs, were without power.
According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, four severe microbursts with wind gusts of 60-70 miles per area were detected in Lower Montgomery County, West Philadelphia and South Philadelphia. The width of the storm was estimated to be between four and five miles, causing severe straight line wind damage.
According to the National Weather Service one microburst occurred in the Western part of South Philadelphia causing a roof to be blown off a vacant building. Another microburst occurred in the Stadium District and the Navy Yard causing uprooted trees and other damages.
Photos by Mark Zimmaro
