Severe weather has made its way back into the region.
The National Weather Service in Moon issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Western Pennsylvania until 7 p.m.
Western Pennsylvania got a short break from the wild weather that flooded homes, closed roads and prompted evacuations, but storms began to bubble up across Ohio and making their way into Western Pennsylvania around noon.
The region remains at an enhanced risk for severe weather and is under a flash flood watch.
Break in the action this morning. Storms fire again this afternoon. In addition to the severe threat, we must also focus on flash flooding. Portions of the area received incredible amounts of rain yesterday. Won't take much to flood again. Flash flood watch has been issued. pic.twitter.com/IUm87K1cNN
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) May 29, 2019
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WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
Butler County was hit especially hard by the storms.
Swift water rescue teams in conducted 10 rescues to evacuate people from rising water in Zelienople, Forward Township, Harmony and Evans City, according to county dispatchers.
Numerous streets in downtown Zelienople were completely underwater, and Mayor Thomas Oliverio declared a state of emergency Tuesday evening.
Many streets were closed all over the county Wednesday morning, dispatchers said.
Part of Gudekunst Road in Zelienople collapsed from raging floodwaters, Tribune-Review news partner WPXI reported.
Oliverio urged people to stay off the roads.
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POWER OUTAGES
As of 11 p.m. West Penn Power reported almost 3,000 customers without power each in Armstrong and Butler counties. Many of these outages were repaired overnight — about 335 customers in Butler County and 334 in Armstrong remained without power as of 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Almost 286 West Penn Power customers were without power in Westmoreland County and about 233 in Allegheny County Wednesday morning.
Duquesne Light was reporting almost 600 customers without power in its entire coverage area Wednesday morning.
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SCHOOLS AFFECTED
Pine-Richland Middle School was closed Wednesday because of an electrical issue.
North Allegheny Senior High school also was closed because of a power outage, and students were being sent to the intermediate high school for the day, according to the district.
Seneca Valley School District was operating on a two-hour delay.
