National Weather Service: More Rain May Be on the Way
Eric Ayres Trending
WHEELING -- As residents of Ohio County continue the recovery process from Saturday night's flash floods, the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh is saying more rain is very possible through the week -- and it could be heavy enough to seriously impede recovery efforts.
A flood watch for the area was set to expire at 10 p.m. Monday, and rain showers are likely in through Tuesday night.
"Unfortunately, the threats aren't subsiding here soon," said Jason Frazier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, on Monday. "What we're looking at is, basically, the environment that led to the unfortunate flooding near Wheeling and Valley Grove and Triadelphia, that environment really hasn't changed, and it isn't going to change too drastically today and into (Tuesday).
"So the environment that's really moist and wet and has the potential for thunderstorms is still in place," he added.
Some slow-moving thunderstorms can develop that could dump rain at a rate of an inch an hour, Frazier said, if not 2 to 3 inches an hour.
What complicates matters is that the ground and waterways that already have been hit hard with rain haven't dried out, so less rain than what was seen Saturday night could create hazardous situations.
Frazier said that Ohio Valley residents should have multiple ways to access the National Weather Service's alert system in case, for instance, a cell phone runs out of battery or TV and radio become inaccessible.
Lower chances of rain - and flood probabilities are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, Frazier said.
Local authorities are anticipating more rain and are tailoring cleanup efforts to account for it. Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier said several cars were removed from the creek beds on Monday.
"Today we're concentrating on removing in excess of 20 vehicles and some other debris from the creeks," Blazier said. "We're clearing those vehicles to make sure they were not occupied."
Blazier said addressing the vehicles in the creeks is a priority for two reasons. Although most had been checked, officials wanted to get the vehicles out of the creeks and confirm that there were no occupants in them. Secondly, the vehicles, large metal storage containers and other large objects restrict the flow of water in the creeks.
In the event of additional storms that cause the return of high water, these objects needed to be removed from the creek beds and from beneath bridges immediately, Blazier indicated.
"It's not allowing a 'damming' effect that would happen at these bridge collection points," Blazier said. "In case we get more rain, this will allow for a freer flow of the water, lessening the impact of any possible future flooding."
As crews continue to work on recovery efforts, the threat of more rain has been in the forecast, and with the ground already saturated in most areas, rescue teams are keeping an eye on the skies and are hoping for the best.
Rain is one thing, but the threat of more downpours has EMA officials on high alert.
"What's worrisome to us is on Thursday, there's a chance for more severe weather," Vargo said. "So we'll be closely watching and monitoring the situation. Because obviously with all of the damage that occurred, we have recovery efforts still going on and restoration efforts, so severe weather is going to affect that."
Staff Writer Eric Ayres contributed to this report.