Weather warning for gusty rain in southwestern Pennsylvania Friday evening

A National Weather Service advisory was issued at 7:05 p.m. Friday predicting gusty rain showers until 7:45 p.m. for Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, Westmoreland and Indiana counties.

Wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are expected.

“At 7:04 p.m., Doppler radar tracked gusty showers along a line extending from Vandergrift through Green Tree to 8 miles northwest of Tiltonsville. Movement was southeast at 25 miles per hour,” the weather service explains. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow over unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”

Places affected by the warning include Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, Mount Lebanon, Bethel Park, Wheeling, Monroeville, McMurray, Greensburg, McKeesport, Steubenville, Washington, Jeannette, Canonsburg, Martins Ferry, Vandergrift, Warwood, Wellsburg, Homer City, Apollo and West Liberty. This includes the following highways: Interstate 70 in West Virginia between mile markers 13 and 14. Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 0 and 23. Pennsylvania Turnpike between mile markers 48 and 70. Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 33 and 59. Parkway North between mile markers 1 and 2. Interstate 376 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 63 and 84.

According to the weather service, “If you are outdoors, you should seek shelter in a building. A severe weather warning is in effect for east-central Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania and northwestern Virginia until 9 p.m.”

Rules for rainy days: How to stay safe in heavy rainfall

Rain can make roads dangerous. Stay informed and follow these weather service tips to stay safe during heavy rain:

Be careful with fast water flow:

• During heavy rain, avoid playing near culverts or drainage ditches, as fast-flowing water there can pose a serious hazard.

Keep the safety distance:

• In heavy rain, the two-second following rule is helpful. Increase it to four seconds to ensure a safe following distance in adverse conditions.

Reduce speed and drive carefully:

• On wet roads, it is important to reduce speed. Slowly ease off the accelerator and avoid sudden braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane carefully:

• Stay in the middle lanes to minimize the risk of aquaplaning. More water can collect in the outer lanes.

Visibility is important:

• In heavy rain, turn on your headlights to improve your visibility. Watch for vehicles in your blind spot as rain-smeared windows can obscure their view.

Be careful on slippery roads:

• During the first half hour of rain, the roads are at their most slippery due to a mixture of rain, dirt and oil. Be especially careful during this time.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

• Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid following them too closely and overtake them quickly and safely.

Pay attention to your windshield wipers:

Overworked wiper blades can reduce visibility. If rain severely reduces your visibility, stop and wait for conditions to improve. Seek shelter in rest areas or sheltered areas. If you stop at the side of the road, position your vehicle as far from the road as possible, ideally behind guard rails. Keep your headlights on and activate your hazard lights to warn other drivers.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce the risks and ensure your well-being during heavy rain. Stay informed about weather conditions and follow the advice of local authorities to ensure your trip is safe and unharmed.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service from United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.