Heavy rain brings areas of flooding to Valley

High water shut down several roadways across the region.

Flooded roadways, power outages and rising river levels disrupted the Friday morning commute across the Pittsburgh area after strong storms — including high winds and a tornado watch — swept through the region overnight.

Thursday’s storms brought flashes of lightning, wind gusts nearing 50 mph and a tornado watch that remained in effect across parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia until expiring around 11 p.m.

By early Friday, the primary threat had shifted from wind to water.

Between 1.25 and 2.25 inches of rain fell across the Pittsburgh region, according to National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, leading to flooding concerns that carried into the morning commute.

Flood warnings issued overnight were extended into the morning, and in some areas into the afternoon as creeks and streams continued to rise.

Low-lying roads were most vulnerable.

In Allegheny County, the White Oak Volunteer Fire Department reported Route 48 closed at Cool Springs Road due to flooding and advised residents to avoid Rippel Road.

Ponding was also reported along Boston Hollow Road, closer to Boston from Elizabeth, creating additional hazards for drivers.

In Washington County, flooding along Pigeon Creek forced the closure of Park Avenue from Progress Street to Van Voorhis Lane. The roadway reopened by 11 a.m.

In Fallowfield Township, crews worked into Friday afternoon to clear debris from a storm washout on Old 71 between Cooper and Twin Bridges roads. The area was reduced to one lane of traffic while debris was cleared.

PennDOT District 12 also reported multiple roadway closures across the region due to flooding.

In Greene County, Route 18 was closed between Water Dam Road and Morris Township, Route 21 between Covered Bridge Road/Scott Run Road and West Run Road, Route 3001 (Aleppo Road) between Veterans Road and Buckland Road, and Route 2017 (Carmichaels Road/ Muddy Creek Road) between Jackson Lane and Muddy Creek Road.

In Washington County, closures included Route 481 between Van Voorhis Lane and Park Way, Route 2019 (Wherry/Vanceville/Almond Road) between Main Street and Wherry Road, Route 2020 (Plumsock/Ten Mile/ Hackney Station Road) between Hufford Run Road and Little Creek Road, Route 2023 between Malmgren Road and Rosena Road, and Route 2047 (Little Creek Road) between Highland Ridge Road and Fisher Hollow Road.

In Westmoreland County, Route 381 was closed between Club Stable Road and Route 30, Route 982 between Mission Road and Route 30, Route 2045 (Two Mile Road) between Ross Road and Route 30, Route 2049 (Sleepy Hollow/Causeway Road) between Route 30 and West Route 30, and Route 3089 (Ruffsdale Road) between Brickyard Hill Road and Bridge Street/Hunker Waltz Mill Road.

PennDOT said roadways will reopen once conditions are deemed safe.

Officials also reminded drivers to never travel through flooded roadways, obey posted barricades and allow extra time for travel.

The storms also knocked out power to thousands.

Nearly 4,400 customers in Allegheny County were without electricity Friday morning, according to Duquesne Light Co., though that number dropped to about 700 by 10 a.m. West Penn Power reported smaller outages, with slightly more than 200 combined customers affected in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

River levels near Point State Park, which typically sit between 16 and 17 feet, were expected to crest above 18 feet Friday — just shy of flood stage, but high enough to threaten low-lying areas like the Monongahela Wharf parking lot.

Farther south, a flood warning remained in effect until Friday afternoon for parts of Washington and Greene counties, as well as nearby areas of Ohio and West Virginia. Emergency officials reported ongoing flooding in several communities, with rainfall totals reaching up to 2 inches.

Local impacts extended beyond roadways.

City Mission in Washington announced its Washington store would close for the day due to flooded road access, directing visitors to locations in Canonsburg and North Strabane. Other schools and senior services in Washington County operated on modified schedules because of flooding and power outages.

The NWS said the back edge of steady rain was moving out of the region, though flooding issues were expected to linger through the morning hours.

Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to dip into the 30s tonight before climbing into the upper 50s by Sunday.