Ice jams in Lawrence County prompt road closures, potential flooding
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- 4 minutes read
Rising temperatures in Lawrence County are causing ice jams in rivers and creeks, leading to road closures and potential flooding. As temperatures rise, the ice breaks up, moves downstream, and causes ice jams. “The problem happens whenever the ice tries to move, especially around riverbends. It can get caught in those bends and move back up, and as that happens, you get this big pile up of ice that can keep water from even flowing downstream, almost like a mini dam. That can cause water to start building and eventually go over the banks,” Action News 4 Meteorologist Brian Hutton Jr. explained.Sky 4, Pittsburgh’s news chopper, provided a view of the ice jams in Neshannock Falls, Lawrence County, on Wednesday. The ice is causing water to flow over the banks of the Neshannock Creek.Due to this, officials have shut down a stretch of Route 956 between Mercer Road and Fayette-Neshannock Falls Road. Ice jams can block water and force rivers and creeks to flood.Hutton noted that rain can exacerbate the situation. “Flooding only really usually happens if we pile up the ice enough or we get rain on top of the ice that’s still on the rivers and that causes the water level to rise,” he said.For those living by a river or creek, Hutton warned, “Ice jams are more dangerous on the rivers. Our streams and creeks usually can move things pretty quickly because they’re not quite as deep and not as much water flows through them as our rivers do. As long as the ice moves, our streams can usually resolve themselves.”Officials are monitoring the situation and keeping an eye on local rivers and creeks.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel
Rising temperatures in Lawrence County are causing ice jams in rivers and creeks, leading to road closures and potential flooding.
As temperatures rise, the ice breaks up, moves downstream, and causes ice jams.
“The problem happens whenever the ice tries to move, especially around riverbends. It can get caught in those bends and move back up, and as that happens, you get this big pile up of ice that can keep water from even flowing downstream, almost like a mini dam. That can cause water to start building and eventually go over the banks,” Action News 4 Meteorologist Brian Hutton Jr. explained.
Sky 4, Pittsburgh’s news chopper, provided a view of the ice jams in Neshannock Falls, Lawrence County, on Wednesday.
The ice is causing water to flow over the banks of the Neshannock Creek.
Due to this, officials have shut down a stretch of Route 956 between Mercer Road and Fayette-Neshannock Falls Road. Ice jams can block water and force rivers and creeks to flood.
Hutton noted that rain can exacerbate the situation. “Flooding only really usually happens if we pile up the ice enough or we get rain on top of the ice that’s still on the rivers and that causes the water level to rise,” he said.
For those living by a river or creek, Hutton warned, “Ice jams are more dangerous on the rivers. Our streams and creeks usually can move things pretty quickly because they’re not quite as deep and not as much water flows through them as our rivers do. As long as the ice moves, our streams can usually resolve themselves.”
Officials are monitoring the situation and keeping an eye on local rivers and creeks.
Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel
