Pittsburgh Under Flash Flood Warning: How Tourists Can Stay Safe And Adjust Travel Plans

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Travelers to Pittsburgh — aliases residents that are already location — should return precautions, arsenic a set of terrible upwind is expected to expanse crossed occidental Pennsylvania starting connected Tuesday day and continuing into Wednesday night. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a connection informing that thunderstorms and dense rainfall are starring to accrued flood risks successful immoderate of nan lower-lying areas of Allegheny, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

That upwind marker is being rated arsenic a 2 retired of 4 for a heightened flood risk- and it whitethorn person important impacts to those driving to work, having to spell to businesses, and those surviving successful wide successful Cameron. The Andy Warhol Museum PNC Park Steel City fans stepping astir astatine Pittsburgh’s landmarks for Friday nighttime for illustration nan Andy Warhol Museum aliases nan PNC Park will want to besides support connected nan lookout for vulnerable weather. In summation to nan imaginable for flash flooding, nan storms could besides bring damaging upwind gusts, lightning and powerfulness outages, truthful support abreast of processing accusation and enactment prepared.

Effects connected tourism and travel

Millions of visitors sojourn Pittsburgh each twelvemonth for its historical sites and charismatic architecture on pinch its much modern venues and unrecorded performing arts scene. But if you scheme to sojourn successful nan coming days, this upwind strategy whitethorn impact your plans. Beware of flash flooding, particularly successful debased lying areas aliases adjacent creeks and rivers. Sightseers and outdoor enthusiasts request to beryllium prepared to furniture up if nan upwind turns.

For hospitality and tourism companies, that could construe to little ft postulation arsenic visitors rearrange aliases change their recreation plans. Overruns beyond nan costs of formation cancellations mightiness go evident for mini businesses, specified arsenic section cafes and different retailers, hotels and carrier operators if roads are blocked by floodwaters. Visitors wanting to research nan champion nan metropolis has to offer, aliases be a section event, whitethorn request to importantly change their itineraries, aliases find indoor alternatives, specified arsenic visiting nan Carnegie Museum of Art aliases nan Pittsburgh Zoo.

Travelers should support an oculus retired for section upwind advisories aliases alerts issued from authorities specified arsenic NWS Pittsburgh, who will rumor immoderate further advisories aliases warnings if needed. If flood waters rise, recreation advisories besides whitethorn travel from PennDOT, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, arsenic well.

What to Expect and Safety measures

Several rounds of thunderstorms would walk done nan region, and dense rainfall was expected, nan NWS said. The storms tin consequence successful flash flooding successful areas pinch mediocre drainage, and drivers should ne'er effort to transverse flooded roads. Heavy rainfall successful a short magnitude of clip could quickly overwhelm large wind drains and origin ponding connected roads, which could trap cars.

In areas that are prone to floods, including immoderate neighborhoods on nan Allegheny River, it’s particularly important to person a scheme successful spot earlier nan storm. Local emergency managers punctual citizens to clear their gutters, cheque large wind drains and reappraisal removal plans. Travelers should guarantee their mobile devices are afloat charged and beryllium prepared to make alternate plans should nan upwind return a move for nan worse, they cautioned.

Visitor’s Travel and Driving Tips

If you person to thrust while it’s storming successful Pittsburgh, location are a fewer other precautions you tin take. Here’s immoderate proposal to thief you enactment safe connected nan roads:

If there’s Flooding, Turn Around: Don’t thrust done flooded roads. Flash flooding is abrupt and vulnerable for drivers.

Be Alert and Slow: Roads whitethorn beryllium difficult to spot and slippery owed to powerful rain. And beryllium judge to slow down and support distant pinch different cars.

Take nan Bus: If nan weather’s really unspeakable aliases you don’t person snowfall tires, nan autobus is your friend. Pittsburgh’s autobus services whitethorn beryllium nan measurement to recreation much safely erstwhile nan large wind hits.

Delays Expected: Heavy rains whitethorn origin postulation delays and detours. built in, and you’ll besides request to let other clip for getting to your destination.

Indoor Options for Tourists When nan Weather Is Uncooperative

While quality walks whitethorn nary longer beryllium an option, not to worry, because location are a batch of things to do successful Pittsburgh for out-of-town guests erstwhile it’s raining. If you’re successful municipality for nan weekend, spot these listings:

The Carnegie Museums Keep barren and plugged into Pittsburgh’s arts organization pinch this postulation of worldly institutions. For a must-visit, caput to Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Museum of Art.

PG Aquarium: Nice indoor, family-friendly attraction located for wrong a pittsburgh zoo.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: Check nan performance schedule and dainty yourself to immoderate indoor world-class sounds.

Impact connected Local Businesses

The terrible upwind whitethorn besides create a headwind for section businesses, particularly those successful tourism and hospitality. Disruptions successful recreation mightiness unit cancellations for tours, bookings and outdoor expeditions. Companies that would beryllium required to change their hours, aliases supply alternative, indoor services, should show nan forecast. “Retail stores, restaurants and different businesses successful our metropolis should expect nan imaginable for reduced ft traffic, peculiarly during nan highest times of nan astir adverse upwind conditions.

Visitors besides should corroborate immoderate reservations aliases tickets, and person a scheme B successful lawsuit your plans get waylaid by nan storm. One whitethorn want to spell indoors for nan types of businesses that connection an wrong experience, and wrong markets, museums (a poster museum), and 1 taste arena (a D.J. marketplace successful a pop-up club) whitethorn beryllium worthy checking retired connected a rainy day.

Stay Informed and Prepared

But arsenic nan large wind strategy develops further, it’s champion to enactment weather-aware and look for section alerts from nan National Weather Service and nan Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Additional warnings aliases watches could beryllium issued passim nan day.

What travelers request to know: That you battalion capable supplies — water, snacks, a flashlight and a portable charger successful an emergency kit — erstwhile difficult walking ahead. If you’re staying successful a hotel, inquire astatine nan beforehand table astir nan hotel’s emergency procedures related to powerfulness outages aliases flooding.

Tourist Timeline Help guides for visitors stuck successful Pittsburgh successful bad weather:

Refer to recreation advisories from NWS Pittsburgh and PennDOT for nan latest roadworthy closures aliases advisories.

Turn around, don’t drown – flash floods tin hap successful a flash and your life could beryllium astatine risk.

And really astir focusing connected things you tin do indoors (museums, theaters) alternatively than each nan outdoor activities?

Keep charged and notified astir upwind conditions and immoderate advisories aliases warnings.

Be safe and person nosy successful Pittsburgh, and enactment informed astir nan latest and accommodate your plans arsenic necessary. Sometimes nan upwind doesn’t cooperate, but Pittsburgh has nary shortage of indoor diversions to thief you upwind nan storm.