What is a microburst? Philadelphia declares disaster emergency after Saturday storms uproot trees and cause major flooding

Philadelphia declared a disaster emergency after microbursts caused damage to homes and infrastructure in West and South Philadelphia and parts of Montgomery County. Microbursts produce destructive straight-line winds exceeding 100 mph, comparable to an EF1 tornado, with at least four confirmed in the region. Mayor Cherelle Parker highlighted ongoing recovery efforts and urged residents to check on vulnerable neighbors.