PITTSBURGH — Experts tell Channel 11 that the Pittsburgh region will see more ice on the waterways than last year, and will likely see ice accumulation that rivals 2018.
The forecast comes after the region has experienced an “Artic Blast,” with multiple days below freezing.
Last week, as temperatures began to drop, we checked in with the National Weather Service to find out how the frigid weather would impact our waterways. At the time, they shared that ice had already begun to form on the Allegheny River but not on the Monongahela River or Ohio River. They cautioned that if temperatures remain below 22 degrees more ice would form, and the risk for flooding would increase.
>>> National Weather Service monitoring for ice jams on local waterways that could cause flooding
Fast forward to this week.
“We are starting to see some of the gauges indicate that the ice is backing up and water is starting to get a little higher on the backside,” explained Alicia Miller, the Senior Service Hydrologist for the National Weather Service.
Miller said in the span of a few days, things have drastically changed.
On Tuesday, both the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers had about two to three inches of ice. And, is mounting along the Allegheny River.
“The ice itself maybe four to six inches thick, but it’s stacking on itself, and we are hearing that it could be upwards of four feet tall in some places,” Miller said.
Mounting ice leads to dangerous ice jams that can create a wall and prevent water from flowing, which eventually can cause severe flooding. The risk of flooding is particularly high in areas with a bend in the water or underneath bridges where the water can get caught.
“It’s very hard to predict when these ice jams may cause flooding. It usually going to be within a few hours maybe a day’s notice if we are lucky,” Miller said.
Experts told us, it’s a coordinated effort to ensure safety.
“We need eyes on it, we need reports, so we do have on our website a way to report ice and ice jams to us,” Miller shared.
To make a report of an ice formation, click here.
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