Flash Flooding and Flooding in Pennsylvania, February 18 to 20, 2000

Widespread heavy rains of between 2.0 and 3.0 inches fell across southwest Pennsylvania on February 18th. This rain fell onto ground that was already nearly saturated from heavy rainfall a few days earlier. These conditions produced moderate flash flooding across the southwest corner of the state starting late on the 18th and continued into the 19th. However, the heaviest rainfall during this event occurred over the headwaters of the Monongahela River in northern West Virginia, where widespread rainfall exceeding 3.0 inches was recorded. This produced major river flooding downstream along the Monongahela River towards Pittsburgh. This rain event also produced minor flooding along the Youghiogheny River. The following are crests/flood stages in feet for several locations along the Monongahela River: Point Marion 32.3 feet (crest)/26 feet (flood stage); Grays Landing 24.5/22; Maxwell 36.5/32; Charleroi 38.5/28; Elizabeth 27.6/20 and Braddock 24.2/22. Along the Youghiogheny River, only one forecast point went over flood stage as Connellsville crested at 12.5 feet, just above the flood stage of 12 feet. In response to the river flooding, the Governor of Pennsylvania declared a disaster emergency for four counties (Allegheny, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland) in southwest Pennsylvania. In those four counties, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency estimated just over 600 homes were damaged by the flooding. However, most of those homes sustained basement damage only. The hardest-hit county was Washington, where around 400 homes sustained damage. The city of Monongahela, also in Washington County, appeared to be the hardest-hit community, as 23 homes reported major damage and another 77 received minor damage. In Allegheny County, the most serious damage appeared to be concentrated in Elizabeth and West Elizabeth where 31 homes had minor damage and one suffered major damage. In Greene County, although most of the damage was limited to several flooded roads and basements, the Greene Cove Yacht Club reported damage of around $500,000. Despite the damage sustained across the four counties, no injuries were reported. In Pittsburgh, the Ohio River at the Point crested at 23.7 feet, just below the flood stage of 25 feet. This forced the closure of the Mon Parking Wharf, Point State Park, and the 10th Street Bypass.