Tropical Storm Fred to bring steady rainfall to Western Pa.

Southwestern Pennsylvania should brace for rain and potential flooding as the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred are anticipated to bring heavy rainfall to the region Wednesday.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for much of the region — including Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington and Westmoreland counties — from 5 a.m. till 8 p.m. Wednesday, meteorologist Myranda Fullerton said.

Fred — which currently is classified as a tropical depression but likely will be a remnant storm by the time it strikes Pennsylvania — was located across North Central Georgia on Tuesday afternoon.

“Models are pretty consistent bringing the center of Fred into Western Pennsylvania overnight Tuesday into Wednesday with an all-day rain Wednesday associated with it,” Fullerton said. “Because of that, we have a flash flood watch issued for the majority of our area.”

Recent rainstorms heighten the risk for flooding, she said.

The remnants of Tropical Depression Fred will bring widespread showers to the area overnight through Wednesday evening. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for a majority of the region. pic.twitter.com/o8GshradDC

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) August 18, 2021

The National Weather Service is anticipating rain, and flooding will be the primary concerns. Fullerton said she doesn’t anticipate hail or other damaging impacts to hit the region Wednesday.

“Wind really shouldn’t be much of an issue with this,” she said. “You might see some gusts tomorrow afternoon, but the wind will pretty much be minimal.”

National Weather Service models indicate the rainfall will blanket the entire region fairly equally. Rainfall is expected to start after midnight and last until Wednesday evening with as much as 2 inches in the region.

“It’s fairly progressive, so it won’t be hanging around for several days, which is a good thing,” Fullerton said.

Once the storm leaves the region Wednesday evening, it will progress north and east toward Central Pennsylvania before continuing on to Upstate New York and other points northeast.

But even once the remnants of Tropical Depression Fred leave, the umbrellas will stay. Thursday and Friday will continue to have “potential for showers,” Fullerton said. Saturday and Sunday are “not washouts by any means,” Fullerton said, but they will bring a chance of rain.

“The biggest rainfall appears to be with Fred tomorrow,” she said.

The next “perfectly dry” days won’t come until next week, Fullerton said.

With the heavy showers today, temperatures will hover in the mid 70’s, according to the National Weather Service, before dipping into the upper 60s overnight.

Thursday’s temperatures should see a return to the low 80s as rain becomes scattered and dry air moves in.