County monitoring ice floes as temps rise

Allegheny County emergency officials are warning that ice on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers could break up this weekend, possibly causing flooding in some parts of the region.

Matt Brown, chief of emergency services for Allegheny County, said rain and temperatures that are expected to rise into the 40s could free up ice that is now jammed on the rivers, threatening people and property downstream.

“The Allegheny River ice jam begins at the Springdale/Plum area and extends upriver past

the Tarentum Bridge,” Chief Brown said in a news release. “The ice jam on the Ohio begins at the Emsworth Dam and extends upriver.

“Additional rain this weekend and warmer temperatures increase the risk that these ice jams may break up or begin to flow. The Monongahela River could be impacted by water levels in the Pittsburgh pool, should river levels rise.

“Anyone along the path downstream of these jams may be impacted should these jams break up or begin to move. Additionally, tributaries of these rivers may also contain ice buildup or be unable to flow into the river, causing localized flooding.”

Chief Brown advised residents and businesses along the rivers and their tributaries to:

· Protect or remove any property that may be impacted by pieces of breakaway ice.

· Use caution in approaching ice floes to photograph or record them.

· Monitor news media, Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard and National Weather Service websites, for updates and current river conditions.

Mike Fries, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, said flooding could threaten areas close to the the rivers but should not be widespread.

“It will be real, real small stuff along the rivers where ice will build up,” he said.

Temperatures were expected to reach the mid-40s by Saturday afternoon and remain above freezing Saturday night, Mr. Fries said. Sunday will be similar with temperatures in the mid- to upper-40s, he said.

Some drizzle could fall Saturday night, Mr. Fries said, but it will be minimal. More rain is expected Monday as temperatures rise into the 50s.

Mr. Fries, however, said Monday’s rainstorm would be fast-moving and he doesn’t anticipate it causing much of a problem.

“We’re not expecting much rainfall,” he said.