Quick freeze halts flooding threat
Sunday’s cold snap brought some welcome relief to area river towns that had braced for weekend flooding. According to Bill Drzal, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service, the rapid freeze stopped much of the run-off, putting off the threat of any serious flooding until the next thaw and rain.
“There’s no threat of flooding now. The crest has moved down the Monongahela almost to New Cumberland, W.Va.,” Drzal said. “A lot of ice has come out of the streams and creeks.”
The Monongahela River crested at 26.8 feet at the Maxwell Lock and Dam Sunday at 10 p.m., well below the 32-foot flood stage. Drzal said the river crested at 28.7 feet at the Charleroi Lock and Dam at 1 a.m. Monday, just over the 28-foot flood stage. The National Weather Service had predicted a crest of 29 feet there, Drzal said.
There was some minor road flooding in the Charleroi pool of the Monongahela River. In Brownsville, Albany Road was closed all day Sunday because of high water. The situation reversed itself Monday.
“We are OK. I spoke with the Army Corps of Engineers at 5 a.m. They said it dropped 2 feet overnight and it’s continuing to recede,” said Brownsville Mayor Norma Ryan.
“We still have flooding at the wharf. Albany was closed (Sunday) all day and all night, but the water receded and it reopened (Monday).”
The Albany Road problem was caused primarily by river water entering the mouth of Redstone Creek. In Washington Township, just south of Fayette City, minor flooding was caused by creek water that couldn’t make it to the river.
A culvert at Route 201 and Gillespie Hollow is blocked by debris of various sorts, according to Valerie Peterson of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The culvert, which carries a usually small stream under Route 201 and railroad tracks, is jointly owned by PennDOT and the railroad, Peterson said.
“In addition to it being clogged, there are some trees that were cut down that contributed to the clogging,” Peterson said. “There are barricades with lights on them in that area. The road is open. This is just an extra precaution so people stay on the road,” Peterson said.
Washington Township Assistant Fire Chief Roy Anderson said a vacant trailer is under water near the clog and a nearby house had some water in the basement. Anderson said the fire department was called in to pump out the basement, but until the water recedes, there is little to be done.
“There’s no place for the water to go except back in,” Anderson said.
Peterson said PennDOT is working on an agreement with the railroad to correct the problem with the culvert, but she said nothing can be done until dryer and warmer weather hits the area.
Meanwhile, Greene County officials reported some minor flooding on Sunday along routes 21 and 18, and some township roads.
In Washington County, officials said an ice jam in the Monongahela River at the Green Cove boat club caused flooding and road closures on Sunday.
All roads except Black Dog Hollow Road in East Bethlehem Township were open Monday, according to officials.