Pittsburgh's rivers flood roads and landmarks as clean up begins

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Several rivers throughout the Pittsburgh area have crested at or near major flood stages after record rainfall fell across Western Pennsylvania. 

The National Weather Service says the Ohio River in Pittsburgh appears to have crested just after 6 a.m. at 28.37 feet, just shy of the major flood stage mark at 28.37 feet.

The river level is at its highest point in nearly two decades and flood warnings continue for the area through tomorrow morning with flooding ongoing in most low level spots. 

Downtown Pittsburgh landmarks swamped by water

After river levels crested, people stopped by the North Shore to take in the sights and see Pittsburgh's landmarks like Point State Park buried by water. Valerie Stout was one of them.

As she looked at the Ohio River, it took her a minute to realize what she was seeing.

"Oh, my goodness!" Stout said. "That's what I came over here to see, the Point, and it's not here."

Point State Park was barely visible with the only marker being the outline of the fountain. The rest was under several feet of water, appearing to be part of the three rivers.

Three Rivers Trail also flooded, with the light poles, and trees slightly sticking out.

Water even submerged the boat launch leading up to the steps at the Steelers' Acrisure Stadium, where you could see just a bit of the map.

Butler County cleaning up after creek rises 

Thursday is all about the cleanup after flooding across the Pittsburgh area, with portable generators and pumps working overtime in Butler County, where the Connoquenessing Creek spilled over its banks.

Water levels have gone down but at one point in time, the creek overflowed, and the water made its way into basements of those who live nearby.

In one home on Main Street in Renfrew, they had two of feet water in their basement that was still being pumped out Thursday.

Edward McDonald came by to help at his son and daughter-in-law's home. The creek overflowed and filled the basement with two feet of water.

"There's no controlling this river, it's going to rise and get into these houses all the time," McDonald said. 

The water came out of its bank and flowed through Meridian Road and Main Street.

A woman had to be rescued from the flood waters.

"We had to have the water rescue team from Butler come down, took a raft down to her and rescued her then moved the car out," said Penn Township Fire Chief Bill Glace. 

Glace says the water levels were high, but now it's better. All the roads have reopened.

"Fortunately they have most of their equipment hung from the ceiling, so they don't have any damage to their water heater or furnace, so the only thing they have to worry about is the well purifier," McDonald said. 

Flooding impacts Pittsburgh traffic

A number of routes through the city of Pittsburgh have been heavily flooded and are making a major impact from a traffic standpoint.

PennDOT has shut down access to the 10th Street Bypass and the "Bathtub" section of the Parkway East, forcing drivers to find alternate ways around town.

That section of the interstate begins to flood when the river reaches 25' and the National Weather Service says that river levels have reached nearly 28 feet. It's unclear when the two sections of roadway will reopen. 

When river levels reach the major flood stage at 28 feet, Neville Island, the Wood Street "T" station, and Fort Pitt Boulevard can be impacted. 

The Riverwalk along the North Shore of the Allegheny River is under several feet of water that isn't expected to recede before Friday's Pirates home opener. 

Significant flooding across the region

Outside of the city of Pittsburgh, the Monongahela River at Braddock and the Youghiogheny River at Sutersville have crested at major flood stages and will now start to recede. 

At Sandcastle Water Park in West Homestead, the Monongahela River has risen high enough to flood parts of the park. 

At Olde Stonewall Golf Club in Ellwood City, several parts of the course and under several feet of water.

In Greene County, a hillside is falling away from under a building that sits above Ten Mile Creek County Park.

A wet stretch of weather for our area

We just had the wettest three-day stretch of weather since September of 2018.  

We recorded 4.1 inches of rain since Monday at the Pittsburgh airport

Light rain and drizzle will continue to keep the ground damp. Colder weather will continue conditions that are prime for landslide movement.

There are winter weather advisories and even a winter storm warning for parts of West Virginia due to snow today and tomorrow

Highs today will hit the mid 40s with lows in the mid 30s and it will be cloudy.

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