Flood warning up for western Chester County until 8 p.m.; radar knocked out in Delaware

Parts of Chester County Friday afternoon received another dose of exactly what they didn't need – another dousing of heavy rain.

The National Weather Service has posted a flood warning for the western half of the county until 8 p.m., reporting that 2 of 3 inches of rain had fallen.

"Combined with the wet soil, we didn't want to take any chances," Alex Staarman, a meteorologist in the weather service office in Mount Holly, said of the decision to issue the warning.

As has happened repeatedly in the last several weeks, areas to the west of the city have been pounded with heavy rains.

In the 60-day period through Thursday, close to 17 inches of rain had fallen upon Chester County, just over double the long-term average, according to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center.

But this time, Delaware also was targeted, and Staarman said the weather service had received reports of 4 and 5 inches in the Diamond State.

A strong thunderstorm might have knocked out the weather service radar at Dover, Staarman said.

More showers are possible for the next several days, however after Friday night they should become "more sporadic," he said.

And at the Shore chances are good that Saturday will be rain-free.