Pittsburgh and surrounding regions face increased flash flood risk

Heavy rainfall and ongoing storms have triggered a flood watch across parts of western Pennsylvania, east central Ohio, and northern West Virginia. The National Weather Service warns that an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall through Tuesday night, increasing the risk of flash flooding in areas already saturated by recent storms.

In Pennsylvania, the watch includes Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Fayette, and Westmoreland counties. In Ohio, the watch covers Belmont, Monroe, and Noble counties. West Virginia communities under the watch include Wheeling, Morgantown, Fairmont, Moundsville, New Martinsville, and Kingwood.

Southwestern Pennsylvania is experiencing an exceptionally wet period. Pittsburgh has recorded 4.33 inches of rain so far in September, exceeding the monthly average by more than an inch. This follows a historically wet August. In Washington County, recent torrential storms have already necessitated water rescues and temporary evacuations, marking the second major flooding event for the area this month.