Flash Flood in Pennsylvania, June 24, 1996

Name: Flash Flood in Pennsylvania, June 24, 1996
Start: 1996-06-24T13:00
End: 1996-06-24T19:00
Location: Pennsylvania

June 24, 1996 · NWS PBZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Widespread flash flooding was reported in Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County. 62 inches of rain in 45 minutes at the National Weather Service Office in Moon Township.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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Wind
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $150,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.

Widespread flash flooding was reported in Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County. Heavy thunderstorm rains dropped 1.62 inches of rain in 45 minutes at the National Weather Service Office in Moon Township. Runoff from the rain flooded many streets in Moon Township. Thorn Run overflowed its banks and damaged a pool and swept mud and water into dozens of homes. The creek washed out a foot bridge and tore down a 50 foot retaining wall. Flaugherty Run in Moon Township went out of its banks and flooded nearby roads. A lobby of a hotel in the township was also flooded. Route 8 north of Etna was closed due to flood waters. Roads were also flooded in Imperial. Mudslides were reported along Allegheny River Boulevard near Nadine. Flash flooding occurred along Little Sewickley Creek. Grant Street in Pittsburgh was flooded. Several roads were flooded in Millvale and mudslides were reported in Aspinwal. Route 60 was flooded along McClaren's Run. A creek was out of its banks and flooded Hookstown Grade Road. Street flooding was also reported in Leetsdale and Sewickley. A shopping center was flooded in Leetsdale. Mount Nebo Road and Camp Horne Road was closed due to high flood waters.The Pittsburgh International Airport received a total of 3.11 inches of rain on the 24th, a new daily record. Also, this amount was the second greatest daily rainfall total ever recorded in the month of June, based on precipitation records dating back to 1872.One-half of the total (1.55 inches) fell in just 29 minutes.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Allegheny

When: June 24, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Allegheny County, Pittsburgh
Property damage: $150,000
Coordinates: 40.469, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, June 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5563348.