Pennsylvania, 1999

Heavy Rain in Pennsylvania, September 5, 1999

September 5, 1999 · NWS PHI · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A nearly stationary band of heavy rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Depression Dennis moved through Berks, Chester and Delaware Counties during the evening of the 5th. The heaviest band covered much of Delaware County, the northeast half of Chester County and followed the Schuylkill River through the central third of Berks County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
3

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.

A nearly stationary band of heavy rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Depression Dennis moved through Berks, Chester and Delaware Counties during the evening of the 5th. The heaviest band covered much of Delaware County, the northeast half of Chester County and followed the Schuylkill River through the central third of Berks County. Storm totals averaged between 1 and 2 inches, but up to three inches fell in Berks County. Some poor drainage flooding occurred, but no other damage was reported. The Valley Creek at Valley Forge crested at 6.8 feet, just below its flood stage of 7.0 feet. With Tropical Depression Dennis still along the Virginia/North Carolina border at the time of the heavy rain, this band left the area vulnerable to additional heavy rain. Storm totals included 2.90 inches in Hamburg (Berks County), 2.02 inches in Exton (Chester County), 1.94 inches in Reading (Berks County), 1.90 inches in Glenmoore (Chester County), 1.42 inches in West Chester (Chester County) and 1.20 inches in Crum Creek (Delaware County).

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Delaware

When
September 5, 4:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Delaware County, Countywide
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.917, -75.399 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Berks

When
September 5, 5:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Berks County, Countywide
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
40.416, -75.926 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Chester

When
September 5, 5:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Chester County, Countywide
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
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 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, September 1999

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5722348, 5722346, 5722347.