Pittsburgh, PA: Flood of 2024: Ohio River breaks record in early April

This flooding happened in early April. I ignored it at the time, but, when I came across this video, it occurred to me that this flooding was also in 2024. Note that the parks are doing their job of functioning as floodplains. Not only is the Point Fountain underwater, so is the Three Rivers Heritage trail on the north side of the Allegheny River. Thus, the Heinz Quay boat Launch would also be under water.

mikevaim via Facebook

Dave DiCello posted for photos at 11:30am on Apr 4, 2024 with the comment: "Another set of flooded #Pittsburgh images, this time from this morning. I was there when the rivers hit their highest Point, and water was spilling into Point State Park and onto Allegheny Landing. It almost reached Point State Park as well. I've never seen it this high before."

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[The River Rescue is normally in the river, but not that far in the river. They normally can access their rescue boats with a gangplank. At this time, they would have needed a boat to get to their boats. This photo also shows how dangerous river debris can be.]

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It wasn't just parkland that got inundated. This is the 10th Street Bypass.

PittsburghMagazine, 1 of many photos by Dave DiCello
Photos: Record Flooding Hits Pittsburgh
"According to the National Weather Service, the Ohio River was observed at 28.37 feet early Thursday [Apr 4] morning. That range signifies a major flood according to their measurement system. A flood is officially called for the Ohio River when the water level is observed at 25 feet. The flood is considered to be major at or above 28.5 feet. The river’s water levels are forecasted to drop to 17.7 feet by Monday, according to data from the NWS."

Dave DiCello via PittsburghMagazine
"THE FLOODED 'BATHTUB' OF THE PARKWAY EAST"

Barbara Jensen, Apr 2024

In addition to river flooding, Pittsburgh is also vulnerable to flash flooding because of its hills.

axios, Source: Pittsburgh Public Safety
Up to 4" of rain fell before 9:30 pm Thursday [Apr 11].

🌧️This is already the 3rd wettest April on record (and likely the 1st by the end)

🌧️This is the wettest 1st 11 days for any month on record

🌧️This is the only time the 1st and 2nd greatest daily rainfall for a month have occurred in the same year (4/2 & 4/11)

12:57 AM · Apr 12, 2024

Back in Aug 2011, a flash flood killed four people.

ToledoBlade
"2.1 inches of rain fell in an hour during the evening rush, said Rihaan Gangat, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. But an earlier storm meant the region was drenched by 3 to 4 inches of rain overall on Friday....Hills line both sides of the section of Washington Boulevard that flooded, making it almost like a valley running between them. To the west is Highland Park, one of the highest spots in Pittsburgh. The boulevard slopes down to the north toward the Allegheny River. So when rains hit, water comes rushing in from three directions."