At its peak, reported 52 000 Duquesne Light customers lost electricity. Allegheny Power said 14,000 of its customers in Washington County and another 16,000 in Westmoreland County were in the dark.
Starting at 10 pm, Duquesne 23,000 customers remained without service.
The storm, which lasted about two hours, was reduced to just a little rain - about 1 inch - but the lightning and winds that wreaked havoc in the region. The National Weather Service measured wind gusts of 48 mph in the Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin.
"The rain was not the main problem," said meteorologist Brad Rehak National Weather Service.
The wind toppled trees throughout the region, attacking the power lines. And lightning struck the steeple of a church that now houses South Side office buildings, topple.
City public works director Rob Kaczorowski said crews were working to remove about 40 fallen trees and branches throughout the city. About half of the branches involved that fell on power lines. He said the vast majority were in the South Hills neighborhoods.
"Banksville was beaten up pretty good," he said.
Duquesne Light reported outages were concentrated in Baldwin, Carnegie, Carrick, Castle Shannon, Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, Banksville, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Brookline and Scott.
Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak was one of the many residents of Carrick, who lost power. She said residents heard several reports of storm damage.
"South Hills took the brunt of the storm," he said.
The cuts also hit the road. Lights in the Parkway West was out of the Fort Pitt tunnels out of the Carnegie as late as Wednesday night 9. And during the day, the lights were on Route 51 from Route 88 to Brownsville Road in the hills south and the total length of Banksville Road.
The storms also suspended the light rail service before rush hour, leaving many passengers stranded.
"[We were] trees on the tracks, which were trees on wires, and that complicates things ... we had a lightning hit a communication tower," said Port Authority spokesman Jim Ritchie.
The tower was for a period of time, preventing the Port Authority of audio alerts sent to their passengers in the T stations warning of delays.
T service was back up at 8 pm, although there are still delays in train services were put back online.
Then, almost as fast as it came, the rain stopped and the clouds cleared, leaving a clear sky.
Today, the National Weather Service forecasts a sunny day with temperatures in the upper 80, with just a hint of fog in the morning.
0 comments:
Post a Comment