The National Weather Service has issued numerous severe weather watches for Gantdaily.com news partner WJAC-TV’s viewing area, including flash flood watches, severe thunderstorm warnings and severe thunderstorm watches.
The Weather Service said this storm has produced widespread wind damage and people should seek shelter inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows.
At 3:41 p.m., the NWS Doppler Radar continued to indicate a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing destructive hurricane force winds in excess of 80 miles per hour. These storms were located along a line extending from 13 miles southeast of Brockway to Saxonburg moving southeast at 35 miles per hour.
Doppler Radar has indicated rotation within this storm, the Weather Service said. Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. If a tornado is spotted, people should move quickly to a place of safety, such as a basement or small interior room.
For areas under a flash flood watch, people should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.
Thunderstorms can have rain heavy enough to cause flash flooding, particularly in urban areas and where drainage is poor. The Weather Service said it also possible to have thunderstorms with heavy downpours repeat over areas.
The NWS said locations getting rain amounts of over 1.5 inches this evening may develop flooding, particularly in urban areas or where there are drainage issues. If rain amounts exceed 2.5 inches, serious flash flooding can occur.
Excessive runoff will cause flooding of small streams low-lying spots on roads and poor drainage areas. Drivers should be extra careful.
A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding, which is a very dangerous situation. The NWS said most flood deaths occur in automobiles. People should never drive vehicles into areas where water covers the road.
Flood water is usually deeper than it appears and one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road. The Weather Service said drivers should “make the smart choice: turn around, don’t drown.”
For up-to-the-minute local weather coverage, interactive radar, school closings and more, visit our weather section.
