Record rain in parts of Phila. region

The worst of the overnight deluge has thankfully come to an end, but scattered showers will linger over parts of the Philadelphia region through the afternoon, said forecasters this morning at the National Weather Service.

Drenching rain set records at several Jersey Shore towns. More than 4 inches drowned Atlantic City and Absecon which flooded major thorofares, backed up sewers, and caused traffic tie ups for early morning commuters. Cape May and North Wildwood were soaked by almost 3 inches.

The storm dumped more than two inches on Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania suburbs causing some flooding in low lying areas the Schuylkill River to rise perilously in East Falls. Flood warnings or flood watches have been issued for most of the region.

In Gloucester County, waters flooded the New Jersey Turnpike near Interchange 2 and Route 322 causing traffic to become snarled in both directions as the left lanes were closed, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Also in South Jersey, major arteries in Westville were particularly hard hit with all lanes closed and traffic detoured off sections of Route 130 and 45, according to state police.

Another round of showers will sweep through the region through the morning before moving out to sea. They are not expected to drop more than a tenth of an inch.

A winter storm warning is in effect for much of the Poconos, meteorologists said.

Temperatures will be slightly warmer today with highs reaching the low- to mid-40s. But as the temps fall tonight to the mid-20s, parts of the Philadelphia region could see flurries after midnight.

The good news: temperatures will be slightly warmer today with highs reaching the low- to mid-40s. The area will begin to dry out this weekend with the first glimmers of sunshine returning Saturday with partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-30s.

On Sunday, temperatures will be milder with highs in the mid-40s and some sun.

The storm system began to sweep up the I-95 corridor on Thursday from the south where it caused snow to fall New Orleans.