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Parker City residents continue to battle chunks of ice, flooding concerns

PARKER, Pa. — Authorities in western Pennsylvania have issued a flood warning for the Allegheny River in Armstrong and Clarion counties due to an ice jam that is causing minor flooding in Parker.

The National Weather Service said the ice jam is creating a backflow of water into the town of Parker. State Route 268, also called the Kittanning Pike, is flooded from Parker to Foxburg.

According to Severe Weather Team 11 meteorologist Valerie Smock, the ice is "stationary bank to bank at this time."

Two people were rescued in Parker early Sunday because the water was getting too close to the structure where they lived.

Others in the city of Parker described the scene as “otherworldly.”

“It’s unbelievable. You have to see it to believe it,” said Tammy Christy.

River spotters on Monday were apparently caught off guard when their pickup truck became a victim of the ice, Channel 11’s Joe Holden reported.

“The last time I saw it like this was in pictures when I was a kid,” said Frank Palmer.

The force behind the ice is practically immeasurable, which has Parker City officials concerned.

“It’s packed in pretty tight. So, it’s not going anywhere, anytime soon,” said Parker’s fire chief. “If the ice is moving bank to bank and it stops, the water level can physically chase you up the shore line.”

According to Smock, light snow showers will move into much of the Channel 11 viewing area on Tuesday around the morning commute. She expects the snow showers to linger through Wednesday afternoon.

Smock anticipates the high temperature will be around 28 degrees on Tuesday and only 19 on Wednesday.“The end of the work week will stay dry with highs in the upper 20s to low 30s,” Smock said. “There is a possibility of snow showers over the weekend.”