National Weather Service Issues Severe Thunderstorm Watch

A severe thunderstorm watch for the Plum-Oakmont area is in effect until 4 p.m. Wednesday as a flood advisory for the Ohio River continues, according to the National Weather Service.

The thunderstorm watch area includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. A severe thunderstorm by definition is a thunderstorm that produces one inch hail or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour. 

A flood advisory also is in effect for the Ohio River at Pittsburgh. The river at the Point is forecast to rise above 18 feet by Thursday evening, which will flood the Monongahela parking wharf.

The National Weather Service forecasts the river to crest around 18.5 feet by early Friday morning, then fall below 18 feet by Friday evening.

Here is the NWS forecast for Plum, Oakmont and Verona:

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds. High near 65. Breezy, with a south wind 18 to 22 miles per hour. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 

Wednesday Night: Rain showers before 4 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Low around 29. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 24 miles per hour becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 37 miles per hour. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. 

Keep checking back with Plum-Oakmont Patch for updates.

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