Flood watch includes Allegheny and Westmoreland counties

The potential for flooding exists through Monday, according to local meteorologists.

Total rainfall Sunday in the Pittsburgh area is expected to be anywhere between a half-inch and just more than an inch, said Alicia Miller, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office in Moon.

Rainfall began just after 8 a.m. and will be followed by possible thunderstorms at around noon, Miller predicted.

“There could be a wind threat with some of the storms,” she said.

A flash flood watch is issued until 10 p.m. Sunday for Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, she said.

Flash flooding is possible as rain from thunderstorms passes through this afternoon.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato declared a countywide disaster emergency following the heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the eastern part of the county on Friday. That allows the county to respond more quickly and efficiently to storm-related impacts, said Kasey Reigner, spokeswoman for the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services.

The declaration allows the county to bypass normal administrative or procurement procedures to immediately deploy all available resources, like emergency services, public works crews or debris-removal teams, to all municipalities, Reigner said. It also aims to elevate the severity of the emergency and the potential for the county to need assistance.

“Overall, the declaration is a vital tool that helps speed up recovery efforts, improve coordination, and ensure impacted communities get the support they need,” she said.

In the Murrysville area, many homes and businesses sustained water damage from Friday’s storms and swift-water rescue crews evacuated more than 90 people. No injuries were reported.

For Monday, NWS predicts a slight chance of rain and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Rainfall amounts are predicted to be between a tenth and a quarter of an inch.