PITTSBURGH -- The second round of a slow-moving severe thunderstorm prompted tornado warnings for Pittsburgh's southern counties late Wednesday night as flooding continued to spread throughout the area.

Slideshow: Cars Flooded Throughout SW Pennsylvania
RAW Video: Flooding Turns Electric Avenue Into Raging River
Weather Watch 4: Latest Forecast, Livestream, Interactive Radar

8:30 -- Storm Floods Roadways; Power Knocked Out

Among the numerous road closures due to flooding, PennDOT officials called WTAE Channel 4 Action News with the following traffic updates in the Pittsburgh area:

• The 10th Street bypass headed downtown is closed due to flooding
• The Penn Hills and Edgewood off-ramps from the Parkway East are closed in both directions due to flooding
• The Fort Pitt Tunnels have lost power

Check Pittsburgh traffic updates before you get behind the wheel, right here on ThePittsburghChannel.

Almost 6,000 Allegheny Power customers lost electricity, mostly in Westmoreland County, where more than 5,500 customers have no electricity.

Most of the Allegheny Power outages were centered in the Irwin, Jeannette and Greensburg areas.

9:00 -- Nightfall Casts Shadow Over Damage In Allegheny County, as many as 8,800 power outages were reported by 9 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning issued about an hour ago expires for Allegheny and Westmoreland counties as the storm weakens and moves northeast, but a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for northeastern Fayette and south central Westmoreland counties until 10 p.m. Ivory said the storm was moving slowly at 14 mph. As continuous rainfall pounds the Pittsburgh regions, police have reported numerous road closures. Pittsburgh public works director Guy Costa told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that high water has closed numerous city streets, and minor landslides have occurred with a large volume of water. "It is amazing how quickly how these intersections have caught water and closed up," Costa said. Among the major roads closed in the city included the Hot Metal Bridge, Allegheny River Boulevard, Beechwood Boulevard, Noblestown Road, the East Busway, Washington Boulevard near the Highland Park Bridge and Second Avenue in Pittsburgh. Costa said many areas in Squirrel Hill, the West End and Elliott were significantly affected with flooded intersections, manhole covers coming loose and cars stuck. Costa said many people were standing on the roof of their cars, awaiting rescue. "It will be interesting to see daylight to see the damage in the area," Costa said. WTAE Channel 4's Jennifer Miele reported that a fire station in North Huntingdon Township is flooded so bad that crews can't open the doors to get the trucks out.

Lightning strikes a house on Pin Oak Court in Plum, sparking a large fire.

9:30

The Carnegie Mellon University reported flooding and power outages on campus. The university has assembled crews to remove standing water and debris. The university reported flooding in the basement and on the first floors of several campus buildings, including the Physical Plant Building, Baker Hall, Mellon Institute, Newell-Simon Hall and Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall.

A WTAE Channel 4 crew on the South Side reported that East Carson Street was flooded out. Additionally, the parking lot at the Monroeville Mall is flooded.

Doppler radar continued to indicate a severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter-sized hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph, moving southeast at 20 mph. Kienzle reported that 327 lightning strikes were recorded at Seven Springs within minutes at about 9:50 p.m.

Flash flood warnings remain in effect for Allegheny, Beaver, Somerset and Westmoreland counties.

The NWS issued a severe thunderstorm warning for southwestern Washington County, western Greene County and portions of Ohio and West Virginia to remain in effect until 10:45 p.m. Additionally, The flash flood warning for Allegheny County was extended through 1 a.m.

10:00 -- Second Tornado Warning Issued

Shortly after the NWS allowed the tornado watch that spread over the area to expire, it issued a tornado warning for Fayette County until 10:45 p.m. and for Greene County until 11:15 p.m. Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado near Lone Oak, moving east at 25 mph.

At 10 p.m., Weather Watch 4 reported a storm cell extending from the Ohio-West Virginia line began moving into Waynesburg.

The same storm has produced thousands of lightning strikes throughout the area. A house on Pin Oak Court in the Windy Oaks Estates ignited to a fully engulfed fire after a lightning strike, according to Plum police.

10:30 -- Tens Of Thousands Lose Power

The NWS issued a severe thunderstorm warning for southwest Fayette and southeastern Washington counties to take effect until 11:45 p.m.

By 10:30 p.m., Duquesne Light reported more than 22,400 customers without power, the vast majority of which were in the eastern suburbs, largely concentrated in Monroeville (3,650), Penn Hills (3,500) and Forest Hills (1,350).

Allegheny Power reported more than 7,200 outages, mostly concentrated in Westmoreland County. Penn Power reported that a substation in Evans City was hit by lightning, causing outages to as many as 1,100 customers. To fix it, the utility said crews will have to shut down the substation.

A Pittsburgh International Airport spokeswoman told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that planes have been able to land despite the lightning, and there were only minor delays.

As of 10:30 p.m., the Port Authority cleared one lane of the East Busway so one bus could maneuver through the areas and provide minimal service through the evening. Authority officials hope to clear enough debris through the night to provide East Busway service for the morning rush hour; however, that decision will not be made until early Thursday morning.

"We're working through the night going into tomorrow (Thursday) morning, and we really hope that people pay attention in the morning to the news and traffic reports to make sure the Busway is open," Ritchie said.

11:00 -- Flash Flood Warnings Extended

Weather Watch 4 reported that Wednesday's rainfall broke a new record with 2.88 inches. The last record was set in 1973 with 1.07 inches.

A tornado warning was issued for southwestern Greene County as the storm moving at about 30 mph southeast through Pennsylvania into West Virginia. The warning remains in effect until 12:15 a.m.

A flash flood warning was extended for Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette, Westmoreland and Indiana counties until 2 a.m. A severe thunderstorm warning remained in effect for Fayette and Washington counties.

Hilltop Hall in Turtle Creek has opened its doors as a shelter for people whose homes have been damaged. WTAE Channel 4's Jennifer Miele reported that as many as two-dozen students are spending the night at Penn-Trafford High School because of flooding.

Pittsburgh police have assigned some officers to other areas in the city, particularly, Squirrel Hill, to assist with flooding calls. By 11:30 p.m., Pittsburgh's River Rescue Team, with help from Baldwin and Ross West View EMS crews, responded to 29 calls for people trapped in cars. Crews successfully responded to all of the calls, rescuing 14 people. The city also reported 16 structure fires.

Turtle Creek, Wilkinsburg and Reserve Township declare states of emergency.

12:00 a.m.

The Pittsburgh Emergency Operations Center announces the following streets were closed overnight: Faraget Street, Spring Garden Avenue (from Wickline to Williams), Spring Garden Avenue (from Williams to City Line), 5400 Block of Beacon, All of 4 Mile Run Boulevard, Saline Street, Idlewood from Morange to Bell, Morange from Idlewood to Chartiers and McCandless Avenue at Kent Way.

The following roads have been closed and may not be open by morning rush hour, according to emergency officials: 10th Street Bypass, Mossfield Street, East Liberty Boulevard, Washington Boulevard, West Carson Street (between the Corliss Tunnel and West End Bridge) and Swinburne Street.

A flash flood warning remains in effect until 2 a.m. for extreme north central Fayette County, extreme south central Armstrong County, extreme southeastern Allegheny County, Westmoreland County and extreme south central Indiana County.

Tornado Safety

If you are in or near the path of this storm, take cover now! If no underground shelter is available, move to an interior room on the lowest floor. Mobile homes and vehicles should be abandoned for more substantial shelter. Avoid windows.

In addition to the tornado threat, large hail and damaging winds can be expected with this storm. Go to a safe place now.

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