Washington Blvd. reopens after being closed for hours due to flooding, debris

PITTSBURGH — Parts of western Pennsylvania experienced heavy rainfall Thursday and early Friday as thunderstorms rolled through the region.

Multiple roads in and around the city, including Babcock Boulevard, Washington Boulevard in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood and Thompson Run Road in Ross Township, were closed Thursday around 11 p.m. due to flooding.

Washington Boulevard remained closed between Allegheny River Boulevard and Negley Run Boulevard  for the Friday morning commute. It reopened shortly before 11:30 a.m.

Water rescue teams were deployed Thursday night to Babcock Boulevard in Ross Township and Seavey Road in Millvale for reports of people trapped in vehicles, Channel 11 News learned.

Earlier Thursday, tornado warnings issued for Fayette County, and Monongalia and Preston counties in West Virginia were allowed to expire at 5:15 p.m.

Chief Meteorologist Stephen Cropper said a line of dangerous storms began to move through Beaver, Allegheny and Washington counties around 4 p.m. Another round of heavy showers returned around 10 p.m., causing more serious flooding on roadways and damage.

Cropper warned viewers to expect ponding on streets and to use caution while driving.

Cropper said around midnight the wet weather would begin to move out of the Pittsburgh region, making way for a mix of clouds and sunshine for Friday.

Cox Media Group