Localized flooding hit parts of Lackawanna County Wednesday afternoon and storms moved through the area.
With thunderstorms and heavy rain pounding part of the region, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for central Lackawanna County and northeastern Luzerne County.The NWS office in Binghamton, New York, issued the warning, effective until 5:15 p.m.
Shortly after 2 p.m., radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area with localized amounts over 1 inch.
Traffic moves slowly along Linden Street in Scranton on Wednesday during a heavy thunderstorm. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
A report of a flooded basement had already come in from Dunmore.
The Lackawanna County 911 Center received multiple calls for flooding in Scranton, Dunmore, and the three Downvalley municipalities of Moosic, Taylor and Old Forge, according to a supervisor. The calls were for flooded roadways, flooded basements and people trapped in vehicles in floodwaters. Most of the calls for rescues were in downtown Scranton, the Flats section by Scranton High School, West Scranton and South Scranton.
Act Out Theatre Group in Taylor posted a plea on its Facebook page to help move and dry items due to flooding in the building’s backstage.
The NWS warned of flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor-drainage and low-lying areas.
Scranton police advised the public in a Facebook post not to drive Wednesday afternoon unless “absolutely necessary.”