The National Weather Service has extended a flood warning until 10:30 a.m. Friday in the aftermath of overnight thunderstorms.
Between flashes of lightning and wind gusts reaching nearly 50 mph Thursday night, the Pittsburgh area collected between 1.25 and 2.25 inches of rain, said Bill Modzelewski, meteorologist for the NWS’s Pittsburgh office in Moon.
The flood warning, issued around 2 a.m. Friday, was initially expected to last until 7:15 a.m. That was extended by about three hours, as rain is forecast to continue during Pittsburghers’ morning commutes.
Rainfall is expected until about 8 a.m., Modzelewski said.
“In general, really any low spot or poor drainage area or any roads close to creeks, those areas could see some flooding,” he said.
Following Thursday night’s high winds, nearly 4,400 Allegheny County households were without power Friday morning, according to Duquesne Light Co. That figure dwindled to about 200 customers by 12:30 p.m.
West Penn Power’s outage map only listed 47 Westmoreland County customers and 75 Allegheny County customers without power as of 12:30 p.m.
Minor flooding has been reported at Pine Creek in Etna and the Point in Downtown Pittsburgh, Modzelewski said.
River levels around the Point — which usually measure between 16 and 17 feet — are forecast to rise above 18 feet Friday, he said. This is about 4 inches shy of flood stage, which refers to a rise in water level that begins to create a hazard for people or property.
A water level above 18 inches is still high enough to close the Monongahela Wharf parking lot, Modzelewski said. However, the wharf lot was still open as of 6:30 a.m.
Jacks Run also has overflown near Lynch Field in Greensburg, according to a social media post by Greensburg Public Works.
The Pittsburgh area is slated for a respite from severe weather this weekend, Modzelewski said.
“This weekend looks like it should be fairly quiet,” he said. “Mostly sunny on Saturday, a few more clouds on Sunday. It will be cooler than it was yesterday.”
Temperatures are forecast to dip down into the 30s Saturday night before reaching into the upper 50s on Sunday, he said.
