2nd day of heavy rain causes more flash flooding across region

More showers and thunderstorms moved through the area Sunday, and flash flooding occurred in parts of the region.

Part of Route 30 in Westmoreland County was closed for about an hour Sunday, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., because of flooding, a county emergency dispatcher said.

The road was closed in both directions between Ruthies Diner, at 1850 Route 30, to Laughlintown in Ligonier Township.

The weekend saw two days of storms that had heavy rain and high winds that brought down trees, in some cases on power lines, knocking out electric service to thousands of West Penn Power and Duquesne Light customers.

It rained on New Kensington’s Fireworks Festival Saturday, and the fireworks display was cancelled after water got into the equipment. It was rescheduled for Sunday night.

On Saturday afternoon, the storms caused the evacuation of Twin Lakes Park in Hempfield, where the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival. The festival continued Sunday without any issues.

But in Pittsburgh on Sunday, a tree toppled down a hillside in the Highland Park neighborhood, crushing a passing car in the 1400 block of Washington Boulevard around 5 p.m. A Pittsburgh police officer driving by saw it happen.

Two women, the driver and a front-seat passenger, were trapped in the vehicle and had to be cut out. They were taken to a hospital in serious condition. Two passengers in the back were not hurt and got out on their own.

Much of the region was under a flash flood watch for most of the day Sunday, with warnings issued in certain areas.

Here is a full list of the flash flood reports received today through 9pm. https://t.co/5g5pZ9anWx

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 8, 2019

Rainfall reports were as high as 2 to 2.5 inches in the Route 30 area of Ligonier Township in Westmoreland County, and between 1.5 and 2 inches in southwest Allegheny County, including the Bridgeville area, National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Frazier said.

That rain caused flash flooding and road closures, also in Washington County, he said.

With the rain that fell through 5 p.m. Sunday, Pittsburgh has received 27.71 inches of precipitation for the year, which 7.42 inches above normal. It’s 2 inches below last year, according to the weather service.

The rain was coming to an end Sunday night, and it’s expected to be dry through the first half of the week.

The next chance for rain and storms returning late Wednesday into Thursday, Frazier said.

The region will also get a break from the humidity, with cooler and less muggy air, Frazier said. Highs are expected to be in the low-to-mid 80s, and the humidity won’t go back up until Wednesday into Thursday with the showers and storms that are expected.

Next weekend is looking to be “nice,” Frazier said.

And below normal precipitation is expected over the next eight to 14 days, according to the National Weather Service.

? Below normal precipitation forecast! pic.twitter.com/RTgIQ103It

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 7, 2019

Brian C. Rittmeyer and Megan Tomasic are Tribune-Review staff writers. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701 or via Twitter @BCRittmeyer; Megan can be reached at 724-850-1203, mtomasic@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MeganTomasic.