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Rain Pummels Pittsburgh Region, Flash Floods And Severe Thunderstorms Possible

After a few days of sunshine, extreme weather has hit Pittsburgh again.

Heavy rain and flooding has plagued Allegheny County today and another one to one and a half inches is expected for the afternoon commute between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

*This story was updated on Thursday, July 11 at 5:27 p.m.

National Weather Service meteorologist John Darnley said these types of storms form and dissipate quickly, so people should keep an eye out for flash flood warnings.

"Don't drive through the water please, you don't know what's underneath it," Darnley said, "it's been raining all day in some areas and some roads have been washed away."

More than a dozen Allegheny County roads are closed or have restricted access due to flooding, including:

  • Route 1003 (Kittanning Pike) between Kirkwood Drive and Route 28 in O’Hara Township is closed to traffic;
  • Southbound Route 28 near the 31st Bridge in the City of Pittsburgh is closed to traffic;
  • Southbound Route 28 between the Harmar Exit (Exit 11) and RIDC Drive (Exit 10) is open to a single-lane of traffic.

  • Route 8 (Washington Boulevard) is closed to traffic;
  • Route 3109 (University Boulevard) southbound lane restriction between Stoops Ferry Road and Robert Morris University in Moon Township;
  • Single-lane lane restriction on Route 65 in each direction at Quaker Village Drive in Leetsdale Borough;
  • Route 837 (East Carson Street) between the Glenwood Bridge and Becks Run Road in Baldwin Borough is closed to traffic;
  • Route 1016 (Log Cabin Road) between Little Deer Creek Road and Butler Logan Road in Indiana and Frazer Townships is closed to traffic;
  • Route 908 (Bakerstown Road) at the intersection with Russelton/Little Deer Creek Road in West Deer Township is closed to traffic;
  • Single-lane alternating traffic on Route 4002 (Geyer Road) between Mt. Troy Road and Babcock Boulevard in Reserve and Shaler townships;
  • Route 2046 (Streets Run Road) in Baldwin Borough and the City of Pittsburgh is closed to traffic;
  • Route 4032 (Fern Hollow Road) in Sewickley Hills Borough closed to traffic;
  • Route 4011 (Babcock Boulevard) between Thompson Run Road and McKnight Road in Ross Township is closed to traffic;
  • Route 130 (Sandy Creek Road) the Municipality of Penn Hills is closed to traffic;
  • Route 2058 (Verona Road) between Route 130 and Route 380 in the Municipality of Penn Hills is closed to traffic;
  • Route 3094 (Bocktown Road) between Route 51 and Beaver County in Crescent Township is closed to traffic;
  • Route 51 between Stoops Ferry Road and Beaver County in Moon and Crescent townships is closed to traffic;
  • Route 1019 (Butler Road) between Hite Road and Freeport Road in Springdale and Frazer townships is closed to traffic.
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Additionally, the NWS says a cold front will likely bring severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, adding that strong wind and hail were possible. 

In addition to flooding roads, the torrential downpours Thursday triggered landslides and even blocked access to a hospital for several hours.

Allegheny County says access to UPMC St. Margaret hospital was blocked due to flooding. Ambulances were able to access the hospital using a different entrance.

In North Huntingdon, a sinkhole opened up behind a daycare.

People were driving the wrong way on an exit ramp because a stretch of Route 28 was closed.

As for the weekend, NWS meteorologist Lee Hendricks says the rain should subside by Friday.

“Later this afternoon and through the evening hours we’re really looking for everything to taper off to rain showers around midnight tonight, then we’ll finally dry out for the weekend," Hendricks said.

90.5 WESA reporter Kathleen J. Davis and the Associated Press contributed to this story.