The Monongahela River is expected to rise more than 5 feet by Wednesday.
The melting snow mixed with Tuesday’s rainfall is causing the river to surge, says John Darnley with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.
“All the local streams and tributaries are basically bank-full,” he said. “And so you should be careful if you’re driving in a low-lying area next to a stream that normally floods.”
Water from the Allegheny River could reach the 10th Street Bypass, but the rise shouldn’t affect portions of the Parkway East downtown.
The Mon Wharf parking lot is also expected to be flooded Wednesday morning. The Pittsburgh Parking Authority says it could remain closed into next week.
Jeff Hawk with the Pittsburgh Army Corps of Engineers says debris from flooding can also clog up the system.
At the same time, cold temperatures Tuesday night into Wednesday could make grassy areas and walkways icy. Darnley says conditions could catch people off-guard.
“I would say slipping and falling would be a real hazard for a lot of people,” he said.
