Flooding, road closures continue along with rain

Road closures continue throughout the region as rain forces creeks and rivers out of their banks, and major flooding was predicted at the Youghiogheny River in Sutersville.

A flood warning remains in effect for the region until 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.

In Pittsburgh, the 10th Street Bypass is closed between the Parkway North and Fort Duquesne Bridge, and the “bathtub” section of the Parkway East was shut down around 10 a.m. The Mon Parking Wharf also is closed.

First responders fanned out around the region Wednesday for water rescues from homes and vehicles when motorists became trapped after driving into standing water.

The Youghiogheny River in Sutersville was predicted to hit major flooding levels. The river was expected to crest at 24 feet at 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Moon. The water level was just under 22 feet as of 11:15 a.m. Flood stage is 20 feet.

Elsewhere in Westmoreland County, the Conemaugh River in Seward was just under 14 feet as of 10:45 a.m., according to service data. Flood stage is 12 feet.

Moderate flooding was expected at the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. It was measured at 25 feet at 11:15 a.m., which is flood stage. It was expected to crest at 27 feet at 2 a.m. Thursday. All of those rivers are under flood warnings.

Other rivers throughout the area were expected to crest under flooding levels:

• Allegheny River in Harmar was just over 15 feet at 11:45 a.m. Flood stage is 17 feet. The river was expected to crest there at 16.30 feet at 8 a.m. Thursday.

• Allegheny River at Natrona Lock and Dam measured 16.54 feet at 11:15 a.m. Flood stage is 21 feet. The river was expected to crest at 18.10 feet at 8 a.m. Thursday.

• Allegheny River in Freeport was at 17 feet at 11:30 a.m. Flood stage is 23 feet. It was expected to crest at 18.80 feet at 2 a.m. Thursday.

The precipitation was good news for the Beaver Run Reservoir, according to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.

The reservoir rose 3 1/2 feet since Tuesday morning, the authority reported on social media. The reservoir, which straddles Bell and Washington townships, was under conservation measures a few months ago because of a low water levels.

Thanks to April showers, Beaver Run Reservoir rose 3.5 feet in the last 24 hours, and 4 feet since April 1. That is an increase of 1.46 billion gallons since April 1. The reservoir currently has 9.31 billion gallons in storage, and is still climbing. pic.twitter.com/kEKmcTty1j

— MAWC (@MAWCwater) April 3, 2024

PennDOT advised motorists to avoid numerous state roads, which it closed or restricted because of flooding. Local police, municipalities and first responders did, too.

In Allegheny County, parts of Long Run Road and Lincoln Way in White Oak, Route 51 in Moon, Fifth Avenue in McKeesport, Route 837 in Dravosburg, Streets Run Road in Pittsburgh, Verona Road in Penn Hills, Saxonburg Boulevard in O’Hara, Walton Road in Jefferson Hills and Oakdale Road in North Fayette were closed.

In Westmoreland County, Midget Camp Road in Fairfield, Two Mile Run Road and Route 381 in Ligonier Township, Route 119 in Youngwood, Brinkerton Road and Baltzer Meyer Pike in Hempfield, Lowber Road in Sewickley, Banning Road in South Huntingdon and Pine Run Road in Washington were closed because of flooding, PennDOT spokeswoman Laina Aquiline said. Ligonier Valley Police said sections of Peters, McKelvey and Peoples roads also were closed.

Part of Linn Run Road, which also goes by the name Darlington Rector Road, was closed Tuesday afternoon because of downed trees and wires in Cook and Ligonier townships.

In North Huntingdon, parts of Park Hill, Leger and Mahaffey Hill roads were closed, along with Route 993 near Quality Way, according to police. In Hempfield, Cribbs Station Road, Broadway Avenue, Fairgrounds Road, Hillis Street, Old Route 119 and Fry Hollow Road were closed, according to the township.

Supervisors in Derry Township closed Oasis Road at about 1:30 p.m. because of flooding.

Numerous roads remained closed in Beaver County, including sections of Route 68 in Vanport and Midland.

Oakmont Borough issued a flash flood warning at 9 a.m. Tuesday and a tornado watch around 7:30 p.m. and power outages were reported in the borough when a transformer caught on fire in the Hulton Road and 5th Street area.

Fawn Secretary Pam Ponsart said clean-up was minimal Wednesday. Bull Creek Road, which was closed for flooding Tuesday from Ridge to Metz road, had reopened.

Dwight Boddorf, Tarentum manager, said storm damage was less than expected.

“We had a few storm basins to clean out but not much else, thankfully,” Boddorf said.

In Harrison, property owners are experiencing significant groundwater saturation issues, Manager Amy Rockwell said.

“We had some temporary road closures but all roads have reopened at this time,” she said.

Public works crews are working to clean up debris and mud left on township roads from the storm.

“They are checking roads and catch basins to ensure they are passable and clear in anticipation of the falling temperatures over the next few days,” Rockwell said.

Penn Hills experienced sporadic flooding, but investments in stormwater infrastructure have largely paid off, according to manager Scott Andrejchak.

“We’re a little bit seasoned to wet weather,” Andrejchak said, recalling widespread flooding in 2019. “The systems are working.”

Crews in Lower Burrell are tending to mostly minor issues, Mayor Chris Fabry said.

“There were a few minor items such as clogged storm drains and standing water on roads but, all in all, we’re in good shape,” Fabry said. “It could have been a lot worse.”

Besides a down tree along Finnin Road, Allegheny Township’s interim manager, Jason Dailey, said the rain has caused “nothing out of the ordinary.” If anything, the storm was a well-timed stress test for roadways and storm systems.