Philadelphia and Newark Power Outage Today After Storms

The Philadelphia and Newark power outage today has left thousands of individuals in the dark after a string of severe storms swept the region Thursday night. PECO Energy Company (PECO), the dominant electric utility company in southeastern Pennsylvania, reported widespread outages in multiple counties in the two states.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Newark, Delaware, residents are reporting power outages after driving through the area of high wind and heavy rain, according to PECO's official outage map. The utility company posted a message on its site warning the public about downed lines and advising people not to approach or touch any electrical wires.

"Extreme high winds and rain have moved through our service area. Avoid touching or handling electrical wires and presume all wires on the ground are live and dangerous," the alert warned.

The Top Most Affected Counties by the Outage

Up to this point today, based on PECO data, five Pennsylvania counties have weathered the worst of the destruction:

Delaware County – 72,155 outages

Bucks County – 71,893 outages

Montgomery County – 70,422 outages

Chester County – 40,786 outages

Philadelphia County – 20,791 outages

For York County, nearly 218 outages were reported as well. Newark, Delaware, also experienced considerable service disruptions, although numbers have yet to be updated.

Storm Spreads Blazes and Narrow Escapes

The Philadelphia and Newark power outage today is part of a series of weather-related mishaps on Thursday. In Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, a tree had fallen on a car carrying a family of individuals. Luckily, there were no reported injuries.

Meanwhile, a suspected weather-related house fire occurred in Westtown Township in Chester County at Westbourne Road. Officials confirmed that there were no injuries and that the house was likely vacant at the time. The fire is under investigation.

Tornado Warnings and Severe Alerts Issued

Earlier today, a tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service at about 5:00 p.m. for New Castle, Delaware, and Chester counties. The warning lasted for about 30 minutes as heavy rains and gusts ravaged the region, leading to damaged infrastructure, uprooted trees, and blocked drainage.

PECO had anticipated the storm's impact, sending a pre-emptive advisory

"Severe thunderstorms will deliver hazardous rain and gusty winds to PECO service areas by 9 p.m. Be on the lookout for potential power lines and fallen trees."

 PECO Urges Caution and Patience

Due to the massive number of outages, PECO alerted customers to a possible delay in notifications. The utility advised people to report the outages through the PECO mobile app or by telephone at 1-800-841-4141.

"We notice the disruption and are moving as quickly and safely as possible to restore service to all affected customers," a PECO spokesperson stated.

Authorities have not yet given a precise time limit for that return, but have ensured that workers are prioritizing the most essential areas to deal with first.

What's Next?

Residents should stay indoors if possible and avoid driving in areas where downed power lines or floodwater can be dangerous. Emergency response personnel track weather closely and assist with cleanup and safety operations.

To receive the latest information about the Philadelphia and Newark power outage today, customers can visit PECO's outage center or view local news websites.