Spring showers turned to downpours in Butler County over the past week.

Over several days, central to southern portions of the county saw four to seven inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.

The day with the highest total was May 28, which saw anywhere from an inch-and-a-half to five inches of rainfall, said Jason Frazier, meteorologist.

Areas that experienced heavier conditions included Zelienople and other portions of southern Butler County, he said.

One report from a resident in Sarver recorded 4.65 inches of rain on Friday, Frazier said.

During that period, roadways closed and low-lying areas flooded, he said.

Parks, pools and greenhouses are among the places recovering.

During last week's downpours, water came through the front door, into the concession area and trickled into the bathrooms at the Evans City Pool and park, said Cindy Caldwell, manager.

The pool, located at 154 W. Main St., was spared due to drains placed around the sidewalks through a grant applied for at the last minute, she said.

Caldwell watched security camera footage of muddy water being sucked into those new drains, she said.

“The muddy water never got in the pool,” Caldwell said.

The area received about five inches of rain, she said.

In the aftermath, Caldwell said there were extra sweepings of the pool for leaves and blossoms that blew in and a cleaning of the pool deck. The back house and pavilion were also cleaned.

The pool remains open. Hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Friday, the hours move to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

“You can't ever plan for Mother Nature. We live in southwest Pa.,” Caldwell said.

Damp conditions can affect the inside of greenhouses, said Jim Schnur, owner of Schnur's Greenhouse in Summit Township.

If they stay damp for longer periods of time, those conditions can cause root rot, he said.

“Things can start to rot easily if it's damp,” Schnur said.

Schnur's advice is for people to open their greenhouse doors to air out the structure. He said adding a fan inside can help.

“It's not been the nicest of springs, but we're getting through it,” he said.

Depending on the severity, visitor safety is the primary concern for parks during downpours. People should find shelter, vacate the park safely or wait it out in the comfort station or their vehicle, said Dustin Drew, Moraine State Park manager.

Other concerns include road and trail washouts, Drew added.

During periods of prolonged rain, lake levels and how it affects the boat launches and dam become concerns.

The park does not frequently experience flash flooding, he said, adding that the open space allows the park to absorb the water.

The lake functions as flood control.

“That water is able to disperse,” Drew said. “As long as it's not a prolonged event, the environment and the ecosystem can absorb it.”

With the lake level up, boat launches could be affected.

The park is currently open, he said.

People should watch for areas that might have standing water and trails that could be wetter than usual, Drew said. If a person cannot avoid the area, pass with caution because the water could be deeper than it appears.

Boaters, kayakers and other water craft travelers should watch for debris that might have washed into the lake from the storms, he said.

“The faster current can bring branches or logs with it,” he said. “That's not something you want to hit.”

Butler County residents should not put away their umbrellas just yet. Here is a look at the three-day forecast:- A cold front came through Sunday.- Monday's skies will be partly to mostly sunny with cooler temperatures. The high will be in the upper 50s in northern Butler County and in the lower 60s in southern Butler County.- Dry conditions will continue into Tuesday.- Tuesday brings partly cloudy skies. The high will be in the lower 70s.- There is a potential for showers and thunderstorms in the morning and evening hours on Wednesday. The high will be in the lower to mid-70s.SOURCE: Jason Frazier is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.