Washington Boulevard floodgates activated through Sunday

Washington Boulevard will remain closed for most of the weekend because of rising waters on the oft-flooded roadway.

The floodgates that activate when the water reaches a certain level were lowered mid-afternoon Friday after hours of rainfall. Public safety officials said a few hours later that they would remain closed until Sunday.

The road is closed between Allegheny River Boulevard and Negley Run Road.

Nearly 2 inches of rain have soaked several parts of Western Pennsylvania, with more on the way into Saturday, according to weather forecasters.

Flooding, landslides and other weather-related issues popped up across the region as rain saturated the ground and stormwater began seeking a downhill path via streets and yards.

The National Weather Service extended an earlier flood watch for all of Western Pennsylvania until 3:15 a.m. Saturday.

Additional rain up to three-quarters of an inch is expected, with showers tapering off about 2 p.m. Saturday, meteorologists said.

In Allegheny County, Forest Hills had the highest rainfall totals at 1.97 inches as of Friday evening, with Pittsburgh not far behind at 1.81 inches, Modzelewski said. In Westmoreland, New Kensington had received 1.78 inches of rain, with neighboring Arnold just behind at 1.57 inches.

The rain caused small landslides along Bailies Run Road in East Deer and Route 993 in North Huntingdon.

Throughout the region on Friday night:

• Basement flooding was reported in Avonmore, East Vandergrift and several other areas.

• Sections of Old Route 119 north of Youngwood were shut down around 8 p.m.

• A Murrysville driver was trapped in rising floodwater on Borland Farm Road shortly after 8:30 p.m.

• Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville was shut down between Hills Church Road the Cozy Inn Cutoff shortly after 9 p.m.

• In Washington Township, two small tributaries hemming in the Meadows Mobile Home Park overran their banks on the way to Pine Run, flooding landscaping and washing out part of Goldfinch Drive in the residential section of the development.

And throughout the region, roads were closed as they became impassable.