Butler County outage numbers shrinking, more storms ahead
Less than 250 power outages remained Monday morning, May 5, in Butler County after severe storms have flooded the area since last Tuesday with more severe weather ahead.
FirstEnergy Corporation, the parent company of West Penn Power and Penn Power, reported 220 outages remaining Monday morning mostly confined to Buffalo and Clinton townships.
Clinton Township has 103 remaining outages reported, and Buffalo Township has 64. Mercer Township also has fewer than 20 reported outages.
Most of the outages still being reported are pending investigation or were caused by equipment or tree damage. All FirstEnergy Corporation outages are estimated to be restored between 8:30 and 10 a.m.
The company reports its crews are already on site or preparing for dispatch to the remaining outages in the county.
Central Electric Cooperative was reporting only one outage Monday morning in the area of Franklin Township. It reports about 409 outages in Clarion County.
First Energy Corporation reports about 420 remaining outages in the northwestern part of Westmoreland County and about 143 outages in central and southwestern Armstrong County with 98 in Kiskiminetas Township. Most of the remaining townships in the area have fewer than 20 reported outages.
The National Weather Service is predicting another round of isolated severe storms Monday starting around 2 p.m. until 9 or 10 p.m., according to meteorologist Chris Leonardi.
Temperatures are estimated to be in the upper 70s and cool to the lower 50s tonight, he said, with Monday likely warmer than the next few. Temperatures are expected to cool into the mid 60s Tuesday.
Leonardi said the chance of hail larger than one inch and strong wind gusts 55-65 mph are around 5% with even lower chances of an isolated tornado.
Radar estimates also showed potential for flash flooding in the northern part of Butler County, he said, with 1.5-2.5 inches of rain recorded in the area Sunday.
“The good news is this is probably the last day of a severe weather chance,” Leonardi said.
The influx of isolated severe storms can be partially attributed to an upper-level low-pressure system over the region pulling moisture into the air from the Atlantic Ocean, Leonardi said.
Tuesday will likely hold less severe showers and thunderstorms due to a storm system over Kentucky migrating over the Ohio region into western Pennsylvania before it will clear by Wednesday morning, Leonardi said.
Butler County Emergency Services announced FirstEnergy activated its Water and Ice Program, making customers without power eligible 2 two gallons of bottled water and two bags of ice. Only one supply per household will be provided.
Supplies can be retrieved from Giant Eagle distribution sites at 100 Buffalo Plaza in Buffalo Township, 1521 N. Main St. Extension in Center Township, 700 Moraine Point Plaza in Butler Township, 20111 Route 19 in Cranberry Township and 206 Seven Fields Blvd. in Seven Fields.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program users may qualify to get one month’s benefits restored by completing a form within 10 days of the disaster with how much food was lost.
The Butler County Assistance Office or statewide customer service center at 1-877-395-8930 must be contacted to process forms. Residents are also encouraged to dial 211 for resources.
