Storm causes flash flooding
Visitors at Kennywood Park shared videos of the tunnel entrance and exit flooded Saturday night.
By the MVI
Heavy rain and thunderstorms Saturday caused flash flooding, road closures and property damage across Washington and Allegheny counties.
A flood watch was in effect for much of Western Pennsylvania as showers and thunderstorms developed Saturday afternoon.
The National Weather Service later issued a flash flood warning for parts of southeastern Allegheny County, east-central Washington County and west-central Westmoreland County.
In Pleasant Hills, drivers encountered flash flooding on Route 51 at Lewis Run Road.
In West Mifflin, a motorist was seen on the hood of his vehicle as it was surrounded by flood waters on Lebanon Church Road.
At Kennywood Park, where its Phantom Fright Nights kicked off this weekend, park visitors shared photos of the flooded tunnel entrance into the park as they tried to leave when storms began.
Videos and images shared online Saturday showed floodwater covering portions of Route 51 in the Clairton-Jefferson Hills area and storm-related road closures in Baldwin.
In Washington County, the hardest hit areas were near the City of Washington.
In East Washington, flooding along Thayer Street sent water into homes and basements and forced residents to move vehicles from low-lying areas.
One resident reported about 5 1/2 feet of water in a basement, damaging a furnace, air-conditioning unit, hot-water tank and personal belongings.
The flooding also affected a stormwater improvement project near the creek in East Washington.
Borough Council President Joe Fulton said exposed ground associated with the work contributed to runoff during the storm and that the weather will further delay the project.
The storm flooded parking areas and damaged vehicles elsewhere in the Washington area.
Ronald Komo returned from work to find his vehicle partially underwater.
In South Strabane Township, the storm caused flooded basements and roadways, trapped vehicle occupants in stormwater, a landslide and multiple fire-related calls, according to the South Strabane Fire Department.
The department’s Oak Spring Road station also sustained significant damage after a stormwater pipe beneath its parking lot collapsed. The pipe channels water from neighboring properties beneath the lot and toward a nearby creek. The lot was inundated within minutes, requiring the evacuation of nearly 80 people. No injuries were reported, but the station flooded and the parking lot collapsed.
The South Strabane Fire Department said it had received Washington County Redevelopment Authority funding to repair the same pipe system after similar damage in 2025, but work could not begin before the grant funds were distributed. Bioni Industries responded Saturday to stabilize the immediate collapse hazard.
Washington County public safety personnel, Canton Township firefighters, Ambulance & Chair and South Strabane public works employees assisted with emergency operations, sandbag deployment, barricades and cleanup. Township officials began steps toward an emergency disaster declaration.
Information from WPXI and WTAE contributed to this report.
