Severe Storms Prompt Tornado Warnings, Cause Flash Flooding & Leave Behind Heavy Damage
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy prompted a series of severe weather alerts across western Pennsylvania on Friday.
Several tornado warnings were issued and flash flooding was reported all across the region.
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According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, a possible tornado was spotted in the Uniontown area.
A trained spotter reported a tornado on the ground in Uniontown area. The spotter has followed this storm since it was in Greene county.
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) June 23, 2017
No official word yet if it was an actual tornado. National Weather Service officials will be out Saturday to survey the damage in both counties.
Staying in Fayette County, officials said late Friday evening that evacuations were underway in the Fairbank area of Redstone Township due to heavy flooding. Water rescue teams were reportedly activated. High waters were also reported in Menallen and German Townships.
In Washington County, Amwell Township did have a tornado touch down Friday afternoon. Officials with the National Weather Service were out surveying the damage and confirmed that a tornado did go through the area.
NEW: Tornado confirmed in Washington County; NWS will check for storm damage in Fayette and Greene Counties Saturday pic.twitter.com/bynKHleEwS
— Ralph Iannotti (@IannottiRalph) June 24, 2017
A photo posted to Twitter by viewer Nate Kepler shows roads starting to flood at Park Avenue and South Main in Washington, Pennsylvania, around 3:30 p.m.
In Indiana County, residents were already reeling from heavy downpours Thursday that dropped several inches of rain in a short period of time. Flood victims had only started picking up the pieces when Friday's storms rolled through.
KDKA's David Highfield Reports:
Ed Yount, of Armstrong Township, said the rain has just been relentless.
"When you take four foot of water, five foot of water it can do a lot of damage quick," he said.
The road near his home remains closed, torn apart by the flood waters. Nearby, a shed sits precariously on the edge of Curry Run.
Several families in Shelocta had to pump water, anywhere from a few inches to a few feet, out of their basements. Down Route 156, the force of the water ripped the guard rail away from the road, leaving a bank now dotted with orange safety cones.
In Allegheny County, heavy downpours flooded Washington Avenue in Carnegie.
There was also severe flooding in Aleppo Township. The Aleppo Brethren Church was surrounded by water. And even the wildlife were having trouble due to the high waters.
Elsewhere, part of Streets Run Road, between Baldwin and Hays, also flooded. The road washed over near Chapon's Greenhouse.
KDKA's Bob Allen Reports --
Employees used push brooms to try to keep the water away from the business. But the owner says it won't be the last time the area floods. People who live nearby say it has happened for years.
"Basically, I think it's when they started building Century Mall up there, Century Square, that a lot of the water has been coming down from there. So I don't know," said Russ Pollitt, a local resident.
Thankfully, the water receded a short time later and workers there started cleaning up the mud and debris left behind.
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