Hurricane Sandy is forecast to bring heavy rains, strong winds and a significant storm surge to the Mid-Atlantic States and southern New England on Monday and Tuesday—and the Pittsburgh region will be affected by this storm.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch and high wind warning for the region—including Plum, Oakmont and Verona—Monday and Tuesday.

Under the flood watch—in effect 6 a.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Tuesday—prolonged and heavy rain associated with a cold front and a post Tropical Storm Sandy might cause some flooding. According to the NWS, areas that get more than two inches of rain on Monday and Tuesday might flood where drainage is poor. Larger rivers also might be impacted.

The high wind warning is in effect from noon Monday to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Winds could blow 25 to 35 miles per hour with damaging wind gusts of 50 to 60 miles per hour. Winds could knock down trees and power lines.

Monday through Wednesday Forecast

• Monday—Rain. High near 45. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 32 miles per hour. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Monday Night—Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 39. Windy, with a northwest wind 28 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 47 miles per hour. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
• Tuesday—Rain. High near 45. Windy, with a northwest wind 23 to 28 miles per hour becoming northeast 16 to 21 miles per hour in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Tuesday Night—Rain before 3 a.m., then rain and snow. Low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Wednesday—Rain and snow showers, becoming all rain after 10 a.m. High near 43. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.
• Wednesday Night—Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Links & Tips

• To see how the county and local Red Cross are preparing for the storms (and what items you should have on hand), click here.
• For information about preparing for the storm, visit www.readypa.org.
• To see how the airport is bracing for the bad weather, click here.
• Check out this AccuWeather.com article for more details about how the storm will affect the Pittsburgh region.
• Stay up-to-date with Duquesne Light at www.duquesnelight.com, on Twitter (@DuquesneLight) or on Facebook. To report a power outage, call 412-393-7000 or 1-888-393-7000.

Continue to check the Plum-Oakmont Patch for information regarding this storm. We'll be updating the site as much as possible.

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