Community Corner

When Will Frankenstorm Hit Pittsburgh?

Forecasters expect as much as 2-3 inches of rain over the next several days, and snow showers moving in by Tuesday night after Hurricane Sandy makes landfall on the East Coast.

While the U.S. East Coast prepares for what forecasters say could be a storm of "historic" proportions, emergency management officials are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best for the storm dubbed "Frankenstorm".

A hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service early Saturday warns that prolonged rainfall is expected for the first half of the week.

"That rain may be heavy at times on Monday night and Tuesday and runoff may cause flooding of small streams," the weather service website states. "The potential for river flooding will have to be monitored during the second half of the week."

Find out what's happening in Chartiers Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The National Weather Service also warns that windy conditions on Monday and Tuesday might cause minor damage and power outages.

Preparations:

Find out what's happening in Chartiers Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Locally, the American Red Cross Western Pennsylvania Region is preparing for the possibility of flooding and power outages in the area as a result of the storm. Volunteers and staff have been put on alert, supplies and resources are being inventoried and prepared, and preparations are being made for the possibility of opening shelters, according to Red Cross spokesperson Lauren Chapman.

Red Cross Community Evacuation Center Teams—community groups who are trained to quickly open shelters in their area in times of disaster—also are ready to join response efforts if needed.

For more information on how to make a disaster supply kit and how to prepare for all kinds of disasters, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/emerserv/preparelinks.aspx.

What you should do:

Residents should stock up on necessary items should a storm hit. Items to have on hand are:

  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries
  • First aid kit and manual
  • Emergency food and water
  • Non-electric can opener
  • Essential medicines/prescriptions
  • Cash, credit cards and important legal documents
  • Sturdy shoes

The forecast from the National Weather Service

  • Sunday: Rain. High near 48. North wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
  • Sunday Night:  Rain. Low around 39. North wind 14 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
  • Monday: Rain. High near 43. Breezy, with a northwest wind 16 to 22mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
  • Monday Night: Rain. Low around 39. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
  • Tuesday: Rain. High near 42. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
  • Tuesday Night: Rain and snow showers. Low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
  • Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
  • Wednesday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 50%.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Chartiers Valley