Heavy rain brings flooded roadways, early school dismissals to Centre County
With Centre County under a flood watch through early Thursday, rain continued to pour Wednesday morning, leading to flooded roadways and some local schools dismissing early.
The county is under a flood watch until 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, and parts of Centre County could see 2 more inches of rain by then. The watch initially went into effect 11:33 a.m. Tuesday.
State College is expected to see about 3 inches of total rain by Friday morning, per NWS.
Periods of rain will continnue to impact Central PA through Wednesday. Many locations south of I-80 have already received 1-2" fo rain, and an additional 1-2" is possible. Ponding of water in areas of poor drainage is likely, with some stream and river flooding possible. #ctpwx pic.twitter.com/UJ0BjeKWFB
— NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) April 2, 2024
In the written weather warning, officials cautioned that creeks and streams could rise out of their banks — and that excessive runoff could result in flooding at other low-lying and poor-drainage areas.
A “flood watch” means flooding might occur. The more-serious “flood warning” means flooding is occurring.
Below are updates on road conditions and more. Check back for updates.
Early dismissals
The Bald Eagle Area School District dismissed students at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, due to “deteriorating road conditions caused by flooding,” the district posted on Facebook. “The safety of our students and staff is our top priority,” the post stated.
Bellefonte Area School District also announced it would dismiss middle and high school students at noon and elementary students at 1 p.m. due to flooding. All after-school activities will be canceled and district buildings closed at 3 p.m.
In Penns Valley Area School District, pre-K through fourth grade dismissed at noon, Penns Valley Intermediate dismissed at 12:20 p.m. and the high school dismissed at 12:30 p.m., according to a notice on the district’s website.
Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District dismissed students at 1 p.m. Wednesday due to flooding concerns.
Spring Creek Elementary School dismissed students early Wednesday morning due to a power outage caused by the storm. There is no timeline for the restoration of electrical services, State College Area School District said in a statement. Notably, the early dismissal applies to only Spring Creek Elementary School.
Flooded roadways
At about 6 p.m., PennDOT announced two more road closures:
Route 2008 (Sinking Creek Road) between the intersections of Egg Hill Road and School Street in Potter and Gregg townships.
Route 3006 (Valley View Road, North Thompson St., Upper Coleville Road, Armagst Road, High Street) from the intersection of Warner County Road in Spring Township to the intersection of Coleville Road in Spring Township.
At about 2 p.m., Centre County 911 posted that Pine Grove mountain (South Water Street into Huntingdon County) was closed until power lines can be removed from the roadway. (The road has reopened.)
At about noon, PennDOT announced that Route 2012 (Penns Creek Road) in Penn Township between the intersections of First Alley and Paradise Road was closed.
PennDOT announced shortly before 11 a.m. that Route 1002 (Marsh Creek Road) between the intersections of Howard Divide Road and Route 150 in Curtin and Liberty townships was closed.
Centre County 911 posted on Facebook a list of flooded roadways from first responders throughout the county and Centre County Emergency Management Agency.
The following roads were flooded:
900 block of Penns Creek Road (State Route 2012) in Penn Township
Penns Creeks/Long Lane in Penn Township
Marsh Creek Road between Orviston Mountain Road and Howard Divide Road
4200 block and 3200 block of Buffalo Run Road (State Route 550) in Patton Township
3100 block Marengo Road, Halfmoon Township
Fox Hollow Road (State Route 3005) from Toftrees Avenue in Patton Township to Big Hollow Road in College Township
Residents are encouraged to report any additional flooded roadways that are causing a hazard to 1-800-479-0050, the county 911 non-emergency number.
The Centre County EMA urges motorists to avoid driving on flooded roads and noted that even six inches of water is enough to cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle. If motorists encounter flood waters on a road, they should turn around.
Other closures
Portions of the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center in College Township are temporarily closed due to flooding. In a Facebook post, the nature center asked people to avoid the closed areas. They’re expected to reopen after the flooding subsides, the post states.
Staying safe during flooding
Flooding kills more people each year in the U.S. than any other severe weather-related hazard, according to the National Weather Service. Smart thinking and proper precautions can save lives and keep you and your family safe.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when vehicles are driven into hazardous flood waters. As such, the NWS encourages people to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” – a popular phrase from the agency emphasizing the unsuspecting power of flood waters. Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock over and carry away an adult, while 12 inches can sweep away a small car. Furthermore, between 18 and 24 inches of fast-moving flood water can carry away most large SUVs, trucks and vans.
Move to higher ground when flooding occurs and avoid areas that are more susceptible to flooding, such as underground parking garages, basements, low water crossings and low spots like underpasses. Areas near rivers are also at a higher risk of flooding during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.
If you are ordered to evacuate your home, turn off your utilities, close central gas valves and gather emergency supplies. Do not drink flood water or use it for household purposes if your home floods, the CDC advises.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
