WEATHER ALERT: Tropical Storm Joaquin May Be Headed Toward Pennsylvania

By Tom Davis:

A tropical storm that could whip up trouble along the East Coast has now placed Pennsylvania in its potential path.

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Joaquin has officially formed, and could pack winds as high as 65 mph as its expected to move toward the region by Saturday.

On Monday night, Tropical Depression #11 strengthened into Tropical Storm Joaquin, and was located 400 miles northeast of the the central Bahamas, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service has issued its first Hazardous Weather Outlook alert in weeks, saying moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to come on Tuesday night and last into Wednesday.

After that, the storm is expected to track northward off the Mid-Atlantic coast. A strong onshore flow is expected to develop and is likely to cause tidal flooding and beach erosion, according to the NWS.

By the time it were to arrive in Eastern Pennsylvania, the storm could develop into a system that more resembles a nor’easter, according to NWS meteorologists.

Even before Joaquin were to arrive, enough rain is expected to fall on Tuesday night and Wednesday to cause localized flooding in areas of poor drainage, according to the NWS.

This “cool shot” will bring a noticeable drop in temperatures to the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes on Tuesday and then the Ohio Valley, New England and mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, according to AccuWeather.

“Afternoon temperatures may only be in the 50s by Friday and this weekend [in parts of the Northeast], which will be a shock to residents given how warm it has been at times over the past couple of weeks,” stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson on its site.

Cities and states at risk of a soaking Tuesday and/or Tuesday night include New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, Providence and Boston, according to AccuWeather.

Photos: Weather Channel