Strong winds buffet region, affecting flights and power

Heavy winds in the Pittsburgh region caused problems late Saturday afternoon.

Gusts were so strong at Pittsburgh International Airport that numerous arriving flights had to circle around or head to other airports after aborted landing attempts.

At least four flights were diverted to Washington-Dulles International Airport, one to John Glenn Columbus International Airport and one to Cincinnati/ Kentucky International Airport, according to air traffic control dispatches and flight radar tracking.

Diverted flights were incoming from, among other places, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, New York and Tampa.

But by 7 p. m., most of the flights had returned to Pittsburgh and landed without problem, said the airport spokesman, Bob Kerlik.

Pilots had reported wind shear as they attempted to touch down, forcing them to lift back up and enter holding patterns in various locations around the region as they tried to skirt the turbulence.

And some power outages were reported, including in much of the business district in Squirrel Hill.

Duquesne Light reported more than 22,000 of its customers were without power; West Penn Power said more than 1,000 of its customers’ electricity had been knocked out.

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh added a severe thunderstorm watch to its wind advisory into Saturday night for the region.

The wind advisory said gusts up to 55 mph were expected in the afternoon and evening.

The weather service was no longer issuing a flood advisory for the Ohio River at Pittsburgh; a previous forecast predicted the river would crest just at flood stage for the Mon Parking Wharf and then recede.

After overnight and early morning rain, PennDOT reported Saturday that two roads remained closed because of flooding. They were Route 2036 ( Pike Run Drive) between Ventura Drive and Powerhouse Road in California, Washington County, and Route 381 from Rolling Rock Lane to Route 30 ( Lincoln Highway) in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County.

Sunday’s weather was expected to be partly sunny with a high temperature of 57.