The horrendous weather pattern to hit the Mid-Atlantic region is plunging much of Pennsylvania, as well as parts of Delaware, into darkness, cutting off power to thousands of people in the process. According to the PECO Energy Company serving the greater Philadelphia market, massive disruptions were reported late on Thursday night, June 20, 2025, when thunderstorms and high winds lashed the area.
As per the official demonstration of outage by PECO, over 275,000 clients in Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Bucks, and Montgomery Counties lost power during the height. Newark, Delaware, was also affected, but to a lesser magnitude. Dwellers in the two states reported unexpected outages, fallen trees, and damage to property as a rapidly moving weather system with heavy rain and gusts so strong that they toppled utility poles and ignited fires in homes.
PECO Confirms Widespread Outages Across Multiple Counties
Early Friday morning, the website of PECO reported the following detailed information on the outage areas. Delaware County had the greatest volume of customers that were affected, with about 72,155 customers being without power. Bucks County was ranked second with 71,893 outages, and Montgomery County recorded 70,422 customers without power. In Chester County, approximately 40,786 outages were experienced, and in Philadelphia County, it was about 20,791. Further west, where York County sits, there were fewer of them; however, about 218 outages, which indicates the eastern part of the state suffered the most damage.
The utility company had warned before the storm and had foreseen a great deal of weather nuance that might bring down service. In a formal warning, PECO advised locals to expect long outages and to avoid contact with any wires on the ground, which could be hot and deadly. Customers were also advised to use the PECO mobile app or call the emergency hotline to report outages and check on restoration updates.
Severe Weather Batters the Region
Thursday afternoon, severe weather started, and at approximately 5 p.m., the National Weather Service reported being under tornado warnings over Chester, Delaware, and New Castle counties. Although no proven ground impacts of any tornadoes were observed, the strong winds were recorded to be powerful enough to uproot trees, damage cars, and break utility lines in the affected areas.
In Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, a tree toppled onto a car with a family inside. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, though the incident underscores the unpredictability of such fast-moving storms. In Chester County’s Westtown Township, lightning or storm-related sparks triggered a house fire on Westbourne Road. Although the home was believed to be unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported, the incident remains under investigation.
Authorities continue to monitor storm-related damage as cleanup crews work through the night to assess and repair critical infrastructure. Emergency responders have remained on high alert, especially as more reports of blocked roads, damaged property, and hazardous conditions emerge.
PECO Restoration Efforts Underway
PECO technicians and third-party contractors are already working around the clock to assess the full extent of the damage and begin restoration. The company has indicated that some customers could experience delays in receiving updated information due to high call volumes and overwhelming demand on digital channels.
While power has been restored to several neighborhoods, many areas remain without electricity as crews prioritize high-impact zones such as hospitals, emergency services, and densely populated residential neighborhoods. Officials say full restoration could take several days, depending on the severity of localized damage and accessibility for repair crews.
The utility company has also reminded customers to avoid using candles during outages due to fire risk and to use flashlights and battery-powered equipment instead. Refrigerated food safety, carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, and safe device charging are among the most urgent public safety reminders being shared through local news and social media.
Community Impact and Safety Concerns
For many residents, the timing of the outages—during steamy summer weather—has added a layer of discomfort. Without air conditioning or working fans, many households are struggling to stay cool, and those with medical devices that rely on electricity are particularly vulnerable. Local authorities have begun to open cooling centers and charging stations for residents in need.
In some neighborhoods, intersections without power have created hazardous driving conditions, with police officers deployed to manually direct traffic in certain areas. Officials continue to advise people to stay off the roads unless necessary and to report any dangerous conditions, such as fallen power lines or road obstructions.
