Pennsylvania, 1996

Flooding in Pennsylvania, May 18, 1996

May 18, 1996 · NWS PBZ · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Flood waters from the Cheat River and other tributaries of the Monongahela River pushed the Monongahela River, at Lock 3 Elizabeth and at Lock 4 Charleroi just above their flood stages. 1 feet above flood stage at Lock 3 around 5 am EST.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

Flood waters from the Cheat River and other tributaries of the Monongahela River pushed the Monongahela River, at Lock 3 Elizabeth and at Lock 4 Charleroi just above their flood stages. The river crested at 20.1 feet, 0.1 feet above flood stage at Lock 3 around 5 am EST. The crest at Lock 4 was 28.5 feet, 0.5 feet above flood stage around 2 am. Both points fell below flood stage by 8 am.

The radar

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

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Event by event

3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Washington

When
May 18, 1:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Coordinates
40.189, -80.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Allegheny

When
May 18, 1:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Allegheny forecast zone
Coordinates
40.469, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Westmoreland

When
May 18, 1:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Westmoreland forecast zone

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, May 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: 5555742, 5555743, 5555744.