The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 3:29 p.m. Wednesday for heavy showers until 5:30 p.m. for Mercer, Venango, Lawrence, Butler, Beaver and Allegheny counties.

Residents can expect wind gusts up to 50 mph.

“At 3:29 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a line of heavy showers along a front extending from 26 miles northwest of Greenville to 8 miles southwest of Wintersville, or extending 31 miles south northwest of Sharpsville to 9 miles northeast of Cadiz, moving east to “Winds will remain high behind the front,” according to the weather service “Wind gusts could bring down branches. trees and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations affected by the alert include Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, Mount Lebanon, Bethel Park, Ross Township, McCandless Township, Monroeville, Cranberry, Moon Township, New Castle, Weirton, McKeesport, Hermitage, Sharon, Butler, Franklin Park, East Liverpool , Oil. Town, Aliquippa and Beaver Falls.

The weather service comments: “Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions. »

Rainy Day Rules: How to Stay Safe in Heavy Rain

In case of heavy rain, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the weather service to navigate wet roads and avoid dangers:

Beware of swollen waterways:

• Do not play in or around culverts or drainage ditches, as the fast-moving water that occurs during heavy rains can sweep you away.

Maintain safe driving distances:

• Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow two extra seconds in heavy rain.

Slow down and stay safe:

• If it’s raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed gradually decrease. Never use the brakes abruptly as this could cause the car to skid.

Choose your path wisely:

• Stay towards the middle lanes – water tends to collect in the outer lanes.

Visibility matters:

• Turn on your headlights.
• Pay attention to other vehicles behind you and in blind spots, as they are especially difficult to see through rain-splattered windows.

Be careful of slippery roads:

• Be very careful during the first half hour after the rain starts. Dirt and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

• Do not follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Also be careful when passing them; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Pay attention to your windshield wipers:

• Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen from a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to subside. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the side of the road is your only option, move as far away as possible, preferably beyond the end of a guardrail, and wait for the storm to pass. Keep your headlights on and turn on hazard lights to alert other drivers.

When facing heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in keeping you safe on the road. Remember to stay informed of weather conditions and follow advice from local authorities for safe travel.

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