Remnants of Debby could drop heavy rain in Western Pennsylvania

Western Pennsylvania may see heavy rain and possible flooding on Friday as remnants of Tropical Storm Debby makes their way north from the Carolinas.

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Shannon Hefferan, Debby has stalled in the Carolinas because there’s not a lot of upper-level winds to carry it out to the ocean.

So what does that mean for Pittsburgh?

“We could get put into the mix if this upper-level pattern that we’re under continues,” Hefferan said. “Right now we’re concerned with the potential of heavy rain depending on the track of Debby.”

Rain returns before the work week is done. This time from the remnants of Debby. #pittsburgh @WTAE pic.twitter.com/PNOluTouZi

— Jill Szwed (@JillSzwedWTAE) August 7, 2024

If the storm shifts too far west, there could be issues with flooding east of Pittsburgh.

“I’m not saying it’ll happen,” Hefferan said. “It’ll depend on how far west that shift comes.”

Depending on how the storm moves, Hefferan said, there could be different outcomes locally. In some models, she said, the area won’t get any rain. In others, Pittsburgh could get a half-inch to 1 inch of rain. The worst case calls for the area to get 3 to 4 inches.

“Right now the probabilities are higher for 2 inches of rain further into the Laurel Highlands, but that could change,” Hefferan said.

A Flood Watch has been issued mainly east of our area (but including Preston and Tucker [WV] counties) for Thursday night through Friday night. This is due to the excessive rainfall forecast as the remnants of Debby cross PA late this week. pic.twitter.com/x6jag188px

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) August 7, 2024

Hefferan said the start time for these possibilities would be early Friday morning. There’s a chance the rain could come as pockets of thunderstorms lasting throughout the afternoon, or the rain could last all day Friday.