Torrential rain traps motorists, shuts down a highway and causes flooding across Schuylkill County

Jun. 12—POTTSVILLE — When it rains, it pours.

After weeks of drought that turned lawns brown and had farmers praying for rain, the sky opened Monday and spilled forth a deluge that inflicted flooding on low-lying areas throughout Schuylkill County.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather warning for central Pennsylvania, including Schuylkill County, and a flood advisory until 9:30 p.m. Monday.

Schuylkill County Emergency Communications reported that Route 209 near New Philadelphia was closed around 5:30 p.m. due to flooding.

Around 7:15 p.m., the Schuylkill Haven Water Rescue team was called to a reported still-water rescue near 16 Tumbling Run Road.

And at about 5 p.m. in Pottsville, firefighters rescued three people stranded in a vehicle beneath the Mount Carbon arch.

Andy Gudinas, a paramedic, said firefighters waded into more than 3 feet of water to help two adults and an infant trapped in an SUV on its way into the city. There were no injuries. Authorities did not identify the motorists involved.

The vehicle apparently stalled, leaving its occupants stranded amid rising floodwaters.

A second southbound vehicle stalled beneath the railroad overpass as it made its way toward Route 61. Its occupants, Gudinas said, were out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived.

Both vehicles were removed by tow trucks.

Wearing waders and hip boots, firefighters worked frantically in knee-deep water to clear the storm drains of debris to allow the low-lying area beneath the overpass to drain.

"We need rain, but not like this," said Gudinas, a Pottsville native who's a lieutenant in the West Reading Fire Department.

Cascading water rushed down Main Street, which is on a steep incline, and flooded the intersection of Main and Center in Mount Carbon.

Firefighters from American Hose Company in Mount Carbon used rakes to clear storm drains of debris to allow the water to drain.

Schuylkill County Emergency Communications system reported flooding conditions across the county.

Frackville, Minersville, Tremont, Pottsville and New Philadelphia all reported some type of flooding, downed trees and pump details.

The U.S. Geological Survey website measured 3.4 inches of rain at the Schuylkill River in Landingville and 2 inches at the Little Schuylkill River in Tamaqua.

AccuWeather reported that a system that spawned thunderstorms over the central U.S. moved into the East, producing storms into Monday night.

Thunderstorms could be strong enough to disrupt travel and outdoor activities from the Gulf Coast to New York state.

The Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport rainfall forecast shows little chance of rain Tuesday but a 100% chance Wednesday.

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007