Heavy rains pummeled our region Thursday evening into the early morning hours of Friday.
Emergency officials in Lackawanna County urged residents of the Blakely Highrise to leave during a voluntary evacuation Friday morning due to threats of flooding. Crews tell Newswatch 16 nearly 60 people left their homes and went to an emergency shelter at Valley View High School in Archbald.
The shelter is available Friday for those who need a place to go due to flash flooding.
Flood gates along the Lackawanna River in Scranton, Olyphant and Mayfield closed due to high river levels after several inches of rain fell. The gates opened after 9 a.m. Friday.
Detours are set up Friday morning on a number of low-lying roads.
"Just stay off the roads, a lot of roads are covered with water and stuff like that. Just stay off the roads for now. It will be easier for us to do our jobs to just in case we have to do anything," said Scranton DPW Director Mark Dougher.
Emergency crews in Clinton County said heavy rains washed out at least three bridges and a section of Route 150 near Beech Creek. Route 150 closed Friday morning from Water Street in Beech Creek to Laurel Run Road in Bald Eagle township. PennDOT said they hope to have the road open as soon as possible for local traffic only.
Luzerne County officials said high water is to blame for flooding at businesses in the Gateway Shopping Center in Edwardsville.
Click here to see the latest severe weather report for Friday.