Flash Flood Warning Issued for Western Pennsylvania Following Ice Jam Break on Allegheny River

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a Flash Flood Warning for portions of northwestern and west-central Pennsylvania. This alert was triggered by an observed ice jam break on the Allegheny River, which was reported by local law enforcement.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following specific geographic regions:

• Southern Venango County (Northwestern Pennsylvania)
• Northwestern Armstrong County (West Central Pennsylvania)
• Northeastern Butler County (West Central Pennsylvania)
• Western Clarion County (West Central Pennsylvania)

The nearest town downstream of the ice jam break is Foxburg.

What You Should Do

Residents and motorists in the warning area should take the following precautions:

• Turn around, don’t drown: Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads. Most flood-related fatalities occur in vehicles.
• Stay away from the river: River banks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe during flash flooding events. Stay away or be swept away.
• Monitor surroundings: Be aware of your environment and avoid driving on any roads covered by water.

Expected Conditions

At 8:43 AM EST, law enforcement reported that an ice jam on the Allegheny River at Emlenton, PA, broke. This break is causing immediate flash flooding downstream. The primary hazard is flooding of areas near and downstream of the ice jam break.

Timeline

The Flash Flood Warning is effective immediately as of 8:43 AM EST on February 20. The alert is currently scheduled to expire at 11:45 AM EST on February 20.