Fast-moving storms roar through Mon Valley

By the MVI
A fast-moving storm rumbled through the Mon Valley early Wednesday evening, leaving behind a trail of fallen trees, limbs and wires, damage from lightning strikes and widespread power outages.
Sirens blared throughout the Valley shortly after 6 p.m. as the severe thunderstorm quickly tore through the area, prompting numerous fire and police departments to head to detoured roads and damaged properties.
As the sun blazed through the downpour, a double rainbow emerged from the sky over Monessen.
In Carroll Township, a tree caught fire in a residential area off of Country Club Road at Watson Street.
Fallen trees and live wires were widespread throughout the area, including reports of a tree down on Route 906 between Belle Vernon and Monessen, and throughout Monessen on Delaware Avenue and Apache Drive, in the City Park Road area, and Delaware and Hoover streets. West Penn Power was reporting outages in Rostraver and Monessen.
Rostraver Central Volunteer Fire Department units were working multiple storm related calls throughout the area. Eagle Drive in Fellsburg was closed last night due to a tree and wires down.
In hard-hit Elizabeth Township, more than 3,000 West Penn Power customers lost elecricity. Three pine trees came down onto a home on Scenery Drive causing extensive damage to the roof.
“We’re going to have to lift them off of there so we don’t destroy the house,” said Nathan Rowan of Rowan Works, a tree service called to the scene.
Elizabeth township Code Enforcement Officer John Snelson said there was roof damage and possible structural damage to the home. Snelson said it was the first of five homes he had received damage reports from. He had not yet inspected the remaining properties.
The trees were owned by Linda Biro of 504 Scenery Drive, who said she and her daughter heard the noise and were heading to the basement for shelter when she saw the trees that had lined her driveway had fallen onto her neighbor’s house. Biro said she was grateful the neighbors were able to get out of the house safely.
The Elizabeth Forward School Board meeting was held mostly in the dark as the power went out mid-way through the session. Power company trucks were seen throughout the region and residents could be seen cutting downed trees. One tree partially blocked the northbound lane of Route 48.
Power outages were also widespread throughout the Mon Valley communities of Carroll Township, Donora, Monongahela, Forward Township, Elizabeth Borough, White Oak and Washington Township.
A severe thunderstorm watch from the National Weather Service remained in effect for Allegheny, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties until 1 a.m. today.
The National Weather Service said the high heat and humidity fueled the severe storms, bringing lighting and strong wind gusts.

Christine Haines | Mon Valley Independent
A fruit stand along Hayden Boulevard north of Route 136 was heavily damaged Wednesday, though a glass jug of cider and several apples on a shelf remained untouched.