Allegheny River at Franklin
April showers bring May flowers... unless April flooding washes them away. The region has seen more than its fair share of precipitation lately. Area residents have had to deal with flooded basements, road closures and the “joys” of hydroplaning on area roadways.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning at 9:41 a.m. Friday, April 12, for Venango, Forest, Clarion, Armstrong, Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer counties. At 6:33 p.m. Friday the warning was extended from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Saturday morning.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning at 9:41 a.m. Friday, April 12, for Venango, Forest, Clarion, Armstrong, Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer counties. At 6:33 p.m. Friday the warning was extended from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Saturday morning.
Allegheny River at Franklin
“Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring. Numerous roads remain closed due to flooding. Streams continue to rise due to excess runoff from earlier rainfall,” the warning stated.
A Facebook post from the National Weather Service Office in Pittsburgh at 3 p.m. Friday said, “Generally, 0.25 to 0.75 inches of additional rain is expected in western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia through 8 a.m. (Saturday). While rainfall rates will be lower, rain will prolong existing flooding. Turn around when you see a flooded road; it only takes six inches of moving water to lose control of a vehicle.”
An accompanying graphic to the post displayed that most of Venango County was in the half-inch to three-quarters of an inch range for expected precipitation.
A Facebook post from the National Weather Service Office in Pittsburgh at 3 p.m. Friday said, “Generally, 0.25 to 0.75 inches of additional rain is expected in western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia through 8 a.m. (Saturday). While rainfall rates will be lower, rain will prolong existing flooding. Turn around when you see a flooded road; it only takes six inches of moving water to lose control of a vehicle.”
An accompanying graphic to the post displayed that most of Venango County was in the half-inch to three-quarters of an inch range for expected precipitation.
Tarkiln Run
Posts from two Venango County Facebook pages that monitor police and fire calls reported water on roadways and basement floodings as early as late Thursday evening. Some of the areas with high water included Emlenton, Clintonville and Cranberry.
An area of Tarklin Road was reportedly flooded late Thursday. A Friday afternoon check of Tarklin Run showed the creek still within its banks. However, debris on the roadway showed various washouts in places.
Meanwhile, folks on the Friends of Cook Forest Facebook page started posting around 3:30 p.m. Friday that the Clarion River was up over River Road. A later post indicated River Road was closed by Toms Run Bridge. Updates on road closures due to flooding, downed trees or other incidents can be found at www.511pa.com.
An area of Tarklin Road was reportedly flooded late Thursday. A Friday afternoon check of Tarklin Run showed the creek still within its banks. However, debris on the roadway showed various washouts in places.
Meanwhile, folks on the Friends of Cook Forest Facebook page started posting around 3:30 p.m. Friday that the Clarion River was up over River Road. A later post indicated River Road was closed by Toms Run Bridge. Updates on road closures due to flooding, downed trees or other incidents can be found at www.511pa.com.
Nonetheless, the high and mighty Allegheny River was gaining ground in Franklin. A graphic from the National Weather Service showed the river at Franklin at 13.8 feet Friday evening. The river was forecast to crest at 14.5 feet on Saturday. A check of the area on Friday afternoon revealed that the water had reached the steps at the Samuel Justus Recreation Trail parking lot near the Eighth Street bridge in Franklin. Several large trees were observed floating very fast down the river.
Allegheny River at Franklin
Another graphic provided by the United States Geological Survey showed that the Allegheny River at Franklin had not been this high in a year.
High points for this year included January 29 at 11.35 feet and 11.02 feet on April 4.
It was the same story for the USGS gauge on Oil Creek at Rouseville.
The April 12 reading of 8.53 feet was the highest level the creek has been at in a year.
Meanwhile, the folks at Kinzua Dam were working to deal with all the excess rainfall.
On Thursday, a post on the dam’s Facebook page stated, “Today we will be performing a series of gate operations in order to slow down the release of water. We anticipate we will soon be at 7,500 cubic feet per second and 10.42' outflow gage height, at 1500 we will close again and anticipate 5,400 cubic feet per second and 9.75' outflow gage height.”
No updates were posted Friday.
High points for this year included January 29 at 11.35 feet and 11.02 feet on April 4.
It was the same story for the USGS gauge on Oil Creek at Rouseville.
The April 12 reading of 8.53 feet was the highest level the creek has been at in a year.
Meanwhile, the folks at Kinzua Dam were working to deal with all the excess rainfall.
On Thursday, a post on the dam’s Facebook page stated, “Today we will be performing a series of gate operations in order to slow down the release of water. We anticipate we will soon be at 7,500 cubic feet per second and 10.42' outflow gage height, at 1500 we will close again and anticipate 5,400 cubic feet per second and 9.75' outflow gage height.”
No updates were posted Friday.
The National Weather Service Office in Pittsburgh posted some sobering stats on its Facebook page on Thursday.
“Pittsburgh has never had a wetter start to Spring in its period of record going back to 1871 ...”, the office posted.
Another post listed various statistics for April 11:
“Pittsburgh has never had a wetter start to Spring in its period of record going back to 1871 ...”, the office posted.
Another post listed various statistics for April 11:
- 4/11's 2.77 inches of rain shattered the old daily record of 1.46 inches (1933)
- 4/11 was the 25th wettest day on record (records back to 1871)
- Month-to-date, PIT is now 6.11 inches above normal
- This is already the third wettest April on record (and likely the first by the end)
- This is the wettest first 11 days for any month on record
- This is the only time the first and second greatest daily rainfall for a month have occurred in the same year (4/2 and 4/11)
Allegheny River at Franklin
According to National Weather Service data, Franklin was also ahead on precipitation for this year. From the beginning of the year, Franklin received 17.81 inches of precipitation, which was higher than the normal of 10.91 inches, but shy of the highest record of 18.79 inches in 1913.
By comparison, last year’s total precipitation at this point was 13.71 inches.
By comparison, last year’s total precipitation at this point was 13.71 inches.
Allegheny River at Franklin
In addition to the rain, rain and more rain, area residents were also faced with a wind advisory in effect until 7 a.m. Saturday.
“Do to a slight uptick in forecast(ed) winds expected today and Saturday and (in) consideration (of) saturated soils allowing ... trees to more easily fall, a wind advisory has been issued valid until 7 a.m. Saturday,” the weather service posted on its Facebook page Friday.
A graphic displayed that 39 mph winds were forecast for late Friday night in Oil City and 38 mph wind gusts were possible up until 7 a.m. Saturday.
Unsurprisingly in its weekly report issued Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor listed no issues with drought for the whole state of Pennsylvania.
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
“Do to a slight uptick in forecast(ed) winds expected today and Saturday and (in) consideration (of) saturated soils allowing ... trees to more easily fall, a wind advisory has been issued valid until 7 a.m. Saturday,” the weather service posted on its Facebook page Friday.
A graphic displayed that 39 mph winds were forecast for late Friday night in Oil City and 38 mph wind gusts were possible up until 7 a.m. Saturday.
Unsurprisingly in its weekly report issued Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor listed no issues with drought for the whole state of Pennsylvania.
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
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