Rains cause minor flooding along Allegheny River; to continue into early Saturday

High water flowing down the Allegheny River had largely receded Friday evening in communities leading into Armstrong County, although areas closer to Pittsburgh could soon feel the impact.

According to Rich Redmond, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon, flood warnings along the river at Parker, Rimer and Mosgrove, in Armstrong County, as well as Natrona, in Allegheny County, have been canceled.

Those areas were near flood stage by 7:40 p.m. as water continued to recede.

“High water is moving down the Allegheny pretty fast with the ice that was left up north of Kittanning,” Redmond said. “We were able to cancel some of the flood warnings because the water is receding.”

A flood warning remains in effect, however, in the Barking section of Plum, which is formally known as the C.W. “Bill” Young Lock and Dam in Harmar. Water levels at that location reached 17 feet by 9:45 p.m. Friday, entering the minor flood stage. The river is expected to crest there at 17.7 feet about 1 a.m. Saturday.

Impacts were felt in areas along the Allegheny throughout the day Friday after its tributaries were swollen from rain Thursday that measured between 1 and 1½ inches, NWS meteorologist Myranda Fullerton said earlier in the day. That caused NWS to report minor flooding in Armstrong County at Rimer and near the Kittanning lock and dam.

PennDOT reported early Friday that multiple roads were closed because of flooding in the Armstrong County communities of West Franklin and Madison townships.

Armstrong County officials reported flooding Friday afternoon at Rock and River roads in South Buffalo Township.

“The high water is caused by the ice and rain,” Fullerton said. “It’s wintertime, and the ground doesn’t absorb much. The water runs off into rivers and streams.”

As high water continues to move down the river, levels are expected to rise in downtown Pittsburgh, nearing minor flooding by 7 a.m. Saturday around The Point.

Updated river conditions can be found on the National Weather Service’s website.