LOWER MERION TWP., MONTGOMERY CO. (WOLF) — Lower Merion Township has temporarily suspended its seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers after powerful weekend storms left neighborhoods littered with fallen trees, branches and other debris.
The temporary suspension will remain in effect through Saturday, allowing residents and landscaping contractors to use gas-powered leaf blowers to speed storm cleanup efforts.
The decision follows a line of severe thunderstorms Saturday that produced at least four microbursts across Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, according to the National Weather Service. The storms generated straight-line wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph, toppling trees, damaging homes and vehicles, and knocking out power in several communities.
Among the hardest-hit areas was Merion Station, where multiple trees fell along South Bowman Avenue, blocking roadways and damaging nearby property. Power outages were also reported throughout the township as utility crews worked to restore service.
Lower Merion’s ordinance restricting gas-powered leaf blowers took effect June 1 as part of a phased plan intended to reduce noise and air pollution. Under the current rules, gas-powered leaf blowers are prohibited from June 1 through Oct. 1 each year. The ordinance eventually expands to a year-round ban beginning in 2029, while electric leaf blowers remain permitted.
The township’s code, however, includes an emergency provision allowing the township manager to temporarily suspend the restrictions following events such as severe storms that leave widespread debris. Officials invoked that provision after assessing the extensive damage caused by Saturday’s storms.
The storms that struck southeastern Pennsylvania were part of a broader outbreak of severe weather across the country over the weekend, which also brought flooding, extreme heat and wildfire concerns to other regions.