×

Waterlogged

Rainfall tops yearly average

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Area first responders monitor the high water from Blair Gap Run that closed the bridge on Dunnings Highway in Duncansville on Friday afternoon.

Rainfall for the Altoona area has already exceeded its yearly average, and more rain is on the way.

Rainfall to date for Altoona area is 43.68 inches, normal to date is 32.55 inches.

“The average for the entire year is 42.43 inches. We are already past that,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Head.

Today will be the best day of the weekend, although there may be some passing showers.

“This afternoon will turn nice and cool and comfortable with low humidity. We will have about a nice 12 hours. Rain will come back early Sunday and rain pretty much all day into Sunday night,” Head said.

“There could be some passing showers. Most of the rain will be south of Altoona. There will not be much north of I-80,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Bob Smerbeck.

Remnants of tropical storm Gordon are expected to play a role in the weekend weather.

“Saturday night, tropical rain storm Gordon will head northeast. Rain associated with Gordon and an upper air disturbance will cause rain Saturday night. Rain can be steady on Sunday,” Smerbeck said.

“The heaviest rain from Gordon will be north and west of Altoona and could bring 4 to 6 inches of rain in parts of western Pennsyl­vania,” Smerbeck said,

“Sunday will be the coolest day since May; highs will be in the low 60s,” Head added.

On Monday, as Gordon passes north, it will get milder, with temperatures in the mid 70s with showers and thunderstorms.

“We will have some showers Monday afternoon and Tuesday. Wednesday will be nice with highs in the 80s and very humid and tropical,” Head said.

“We will have a warmer trend Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs in the upper 70s or low 80s,” Smerbeck said.

Another storm may hit the area by the end of next week.

Florence, a small tropical system, is forecast to restrengthen into a hurricane and push close to Bermuda and the United States East Coast.

“The European model shows Florence coming to the mid-Atlantic coast Wednesday night or Thursday. It is still too early to tell, but if it stalls, it could drop a lot of rain. There is the potential for disastrous flooding if it comes inland and stalls,” Smerbeck said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today