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‘Lots of water’

Flooding stops traffic, cancels events in county

Times Observer photo by Stacey Gross The drain at Miller Hill and Jackson Run Road was blocked at 9:30 a.m.

Photo submitted to Times Observer At your own risk: Morrison Run looking toward Rt. 6 near Dollar General. Photo by Melissa Dunham Wilson. Times Observer photo by Stacey Gross Beaty Field was well underwater.

Warm temperatures and heavy rainfall overnight on Wednesday left many roads closed Thursday.

According to Warren County Public Safety Director  Todd Lake, as of 10 a.m. Thursday, Route 957 was closed one mile east of Sugar Grove, and Route 426 at Route 27 and Old Route 77 in Spring Creek, both due to flooding in the roadway.

“Lots of water flowing into roadways throughout the county,” said Lake, resulted in the closures. Many more roads throughout the county saw minor flooding, but not enough to close them, he said earlier in the day.

PennDOT reported that both Routes 957 and 426 would be reopened when weather permitted. On Jackson Run Road, standing water had gotten as high as three feet on the side of the road, requiring a backhoe and shoveling to clear the drains, according to Conewango Township Police Chief Jason Peters.

PennDOT, as well as North Warren Fire Police, were on hand at two flooding sites on Jackson Run to handle traffic as crews worked to clear drains.

According to Paul Head of the National Weather Service in State College, a large cold air high pressure system that went south of the county began working like a warm air pump, essentially creating tropical gulf conditions and giving us heavy rain.

“Another cold front is headed our way from the western Lake Erie regions of Detroit and Ohio, which will be coming through the county (Thursday afternoon and evening),” Head said.

The temperature, he said, would drop from the 55 degree range, where it was at around 11 a.m. Thursday, into the 40’s and then begin to ease into the 30’s.

“It’s not out of the question that we could get a bit of freezing rain,” said Head, “although right now we’re thinking that we’re going to be modified by Lake Erie.”

Head warned that county roadways would be washed clear of salt and cautioned motorists to be careful as temperatures drop.

“And, of course, if you see a sign warning that a road has been closed due to flooding, just don’t drive through that. Turn around, don’t drown,” he said.

Warren County School District Transportation Manager Mike Kiehl announced that some bus routes could be delayed on the way home Thursday due to road closures and other flooding-related problems, and all after-school activities were postponed in the county. As of early Thursday evening, a two-hour delay had been announced for Friday in the district.

The National Weather Service’s forecast for Friday indicates partly sunny weather with a high near 27 and northwest winds of 8 to 10 miles per hour.

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