A severe storm dropped more than 2.5 inches of rain in less than an hour in some areas of Pittsburgh, with winds up to 70 miles per hour, according to the city.
The National Weather Service reported that the Pittsburgh region received between 2.6 and 4 inches of total rainfall, with 3.2 inches recorded at the University of Pittsburgh. The storm was classified as equivalent to a 1-in-100 year weather event.
The heavy rainfall caused flooding, downed trees, downed power lines, and other hazardous conditions. Emergency responders handled over 60 calls during the storm, with no reported storm-related injuries or hospital transports.
Rescue teams from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and Bureau of Emergency Medical Services assisted dozens of motorists stranded in floodwaters, including nearly 30 vehicles trapped along the Saw Mill Run Boulevard and Route 51 corridor. Fire crews rescued a trapped UPS driver from a flooded underpass on Beechwood Boulevard and towed a disabled boat to safety. Pittsburgh Police assisted with stranded vehicles and closed flooded roadways, including rescuing a person trapped in a vehicle on Northumberland Street in Squirrel Hill.
Over 18,000 of the 60,000 customers who lost power during the storm remained without service, according to Duquesne Light. Several traffic intersections throughout the city had non-functioning traffic lights due to storm damage.
Additional rainfall and storms were expected later in the day, and the city urged residents to avoid standing water and flooded roadways.