Minor flooding in lowland areas expected with rise of Susquehanna River in Wyoming Valley, no structures in danger
WILKES-BARRE — With a significant amount of rain in the forecast, the Susquehanna River is expected to rise above flood stage this weekend and cause minor flooding in lowland areas unprotected by the Wyoming Valley levee system, according to the National Weather Service.
The river is expected to reach a level of 23.2 feet at 2 a.m. Saturday in Wilkes-Barre and remain at that level throughout the morning, but no structures are in danger, said Lucy Morgan, director of the Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency.
The areas of Plainsville in Plains Township, the Plymouth Flats and West Nanticoke in Plymouth Township, and Shickshinny flood when the river rises to 22 feet as it’s predicted to do by 7 p.m. Friday. The levee is designed to protect Wilkes-Barre up to a river level of 41 feet.
The river has been up and down since the March 14 snowstorm blanketed Northeastern Pennsylvania and the upper basin of the river in New York state. The combination of warm temperatures and rain have melted the snowpack, feeding tributaries of the river. Up to an inch of rain could fall on Northeastern Pennsylvania and portions of central New York on Thursday and Friday, according to the NWS.
Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter
