Pennsylvania, 1997

Heavy Rain in Pennsylvania, July 23 to 24, 1997

July 23 to 24, 1997 · NWS PHI · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Heavy rain, associated with weak low pressure systems riding along a nearly stationary frontal boundary in the southern Delmarva Peninsula, fell across Berks and Chester Counties from the afternoon of the 23rd to the morning of the 24th. For most places this was the most widespread and heaviest rain since the beginning of June.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.

Heavy rain, associated with weak low pressure systems riding along a nearly stationary frontal boundary in the southern Delmarva Peninsula, fell across Berks and Chester Counties from the afternoon of the 23rd to the morning of the 24th. For most places this was the most widespread and heaviest rain since the beginning of June. Storm totals included 1.85 inches in Hamburg, 1.66 inches in Glenmoore, 1.49 inches in Honey Brook and 1.05 inches in Reading. Because of the extremely dry weather preceding this week, there was no river or creek flooding and roadway flooding was confined to the usual poor drainage and low-lying areas.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Berks

When
July 23, 2:00 PM EST to July 24, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Berks County, Countywide
Coordinates
40.416, -75.926 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Chester

When
July 23, 2:00 PM EST to July 24, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Chester County, Countywide
Coordinates
39.973, -75.748 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5614582, 5614583.