Heavy Downpours Cause Severe Flash Flooding Across Area
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Heavy, slow-moving downpours caused severe flash flooding across western Pennsylvania on Friday night.
A Flash Flood Warning was in effect for much of the evening for several parts of the area. In Allegheny, Armstrong and Butler counties, the warning was issued until 4:15 a.m. Saturday.
A Flash Flood Watch also continued into Saturday morning for Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Greene and Washington counties, as well as parts of West Virginia.
"The problem is, not only are we getting heavy downpours, but everything is moving and transitioning very slowly across the area so downpours occur for an extended period of time," said KDKA Chief Meteorologist Jeff Verszyla. "So any given spot that gets one picks up in excess of an inch of rain, maybe even two inches of rain over a short period of time."
The most severe flooding was reported in Allegheny, Fayette and Washington counties.
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The Allegheny County Twitter page was reporting flooding in several areas, including Scott Township, Baldwin, Greentree, Springdale and Oakmont. Route 51 had to be shut down in spots due to high waters.
Over in Fayette County, the flooding was so severe emergency officials were warning residents to stay off the roads completely. The hardest hit areas are Georges and Union Townships and Hopwood.
In Masontown, a creek rose over its banks, flooding Smithfield-Masontown Road. The water was deep enough that no cars could get through.
In South Uniontown, Lebanon Avenue near the shopping plaza also flooded. A truck managed to drive through the flood waters but no one else was attempting it until the water receded.
KDKA's David Highfield Reports --
In Hopwood, Redstone Creek went over its banks, flooding some people's homes. People who live along Walnut Avenue were trying to save whatever they could from the rising waters.
Home video shows severe flooding in Fairchance.
Resident Marybeth Homistek says there was heavy flooding behind the Shop 'n Save there and firefighters had to pump water out of another building.
The flooding was also severe in parts of Washington County.
In the city of Little Washington, the rain came down fast and furious at times. The downpours caused numerous problems, including street closures, like at the intersection of Washington and West Chestnut Streets.
Flooding in Washington, Pa: corner of Washington & West Chesnut Streets pic.twitter.com/AGsabBNOES
— Ralph Iannotti (@IannottiRalph) July 28, 2017
"I was trying to get home, but the road is closed," resident B.J. Riggie said. "I have to walk through this water and go up a hill or find another way around it. They said there is no way to get around it."
Just outside the city, more flooding was occurring on Route 40.
On West Maiden Street, two city police officers came to the rescue of a woman driver whose vehicle got stuck under a railroad trestle.
WATER RESCUE: Washington City Police rescued driver from her car stranded by high water under train trestle pic.twitter.com/8PYQGgomXr
— Ralph Iannotti (@IannottiRalph) July 28, 2017
A few blocks away, a Good Samaritan helped an elderly man and his car get out of harm's way.
Anthony Latshow told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "I was coming home from work and I noticed he was in high water. I seen the car, he was waving his hand out. I parked, ran down, jumped in water and pushed him all the way back here where he could get out."
Marsha McConnell works at the Washington City Mission. The store and the parking lot were both flooded because nearby Catfish Creek overflowed, leaving several people stranded in the parking lot.
KDKA's Ralph Iannotti Reports --
Crews will have a big cleanup job in the store this weekend.
"The water started to come down quickly," McConnell said. "We had pumps at the bottom of the street and a creek behind. The creek wasn't holding it. When I left, we had about five inches of water in the store."
While cleanup will be intensive in the flooded areas, the good news is there is nicer weather ahead. Forecasters say after some leftover showers on Saturday morning, things will clear out.
Then, we're looking at a long stretch of nice days starting on Sunday.
Stay with KDKA for the latest weather conditions.
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