Storm brings flooding, road closures to Valley
The rivers remained below flood stage, but many streams and creeks were overflowing.
After a stormy Friday that brought wide-spread flooding to the area, the potential for more flooding exists through Monday, according to local meteorologists.
Total rainfall Sunday in the Pittsburgh area is expected to be anywhere between a half-inch and just more than an inch, said Alicia Miller, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office in Moon.
Rainfall began just after 8 a.m. and will be followed by possible thunderstorms at around noon, Miller predicted.
“There could be a wind threat with some of the storms,” she said.
A flash flood watch is issued until 10 p.m. Sunday for Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, she said.
Flash flooding is possible as rain from thunderstorms passes through this afternoon.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato declared a countywide disaster emergency following the heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the eastern part of the county on Friday. That allows the county to respond more quickly and efficiently to storm-related impacts, said Kasey Reigner, spokeswoman for the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services.
The declaration allows the county to bypass normal administrative or procurement procedures to immediately deploy all available resources, like emergency services, public works crews or debris-removal teams, to all municipalities, Reigner said. It also aims to elevate the severity of the emergency and the potential for the county to need assistance.
“Overall, the declaration is a vital tool that helps speed up recovery efforts, improve coordination, and ensure impacted communities get the support they need,” she said.
Several areas in the Mon Valley were affected by severe weather Friday evening, with parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties being hit hard by rain.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, the risk for damaging wind and large hail lowered Friday afternoon, but flash flooding had a significant impact for most of the evening.
Flash flood warnings were issued for West Mifflin, McKeesport/White Oak, Monessen, Monongahela, New Eagle, Donora and parts of Elizabeth until 8:30 p.m.
Allegheny County issued a flood warning until 1 a.m. for locations such as West Mifflin and North Versailles.
The NWS Pittsburgh Real- Time River Monitor indicated that the Monongahela and Youghiogheny River levels remained below flood stage. However, flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and floodprone locations was imminent, according to an Allegheny County weather alert.
The heaviest thunderstorms produced between two and three inches of rain on Friday, with an additional inch of rainfall in the forecast.
NWS Pittsburgh recommended remaining weather aware, avoiding flooded roadways, getting to higher ground and using caution while driving through heavy rain. The storms also brought damaging wind gusts, and numerous roads were closed due to flooding.
Bunola River Road in Elizabeth Township, between Surf Drive and Raccoon Run Road, was closed for a while Friday due to flooding and a partial mudslide, according to a Facebook post from the Elizabeth Township Police Department. PennDOT was notified and was able to clear the roadway.
Residents reported on social media that Heckman Road, Fifth Avenue and Long Run Road in McKeesport, Jacks Run Road in White Oak, Route 48 and Boyds Hollow in Elizabeth Township, Scott Street Extension in Donora and Main Street in New Eagle and Monongahela were also flooded.
The White Oak Police Department posted a video on Facebook of a car driving through the flooding. They asked anyone driving through the area to avoid Jacks Run Road.
