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Stage Listings: Feb. 26 to March 3, 2016

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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Residents of the Wyoming Valley likely woke up Thursday to a mess, thanks to storms that <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/515819/heavy-rain-storms-cause-power-outages-in-the-wyoming-valley" target="_blank">rolled through the region</a> Wednesday night.</p><p>WNEP meteorologist Tom Clark explained a couple of squall lines, as a result of &#8220;very low atmosphere pressure from a very large cyclone&#8221; that passed through the region, produced the thunderstorms. Along with heavy rain and lightning, Clark said the storms produced winds of up to 50 miles per hour.</p><p>Clark said most areas reported about two inches of rainfall, adding rain fell at the rate of about an inch an hour. Clark also added the National Weather Service is investigating whether an EF1 tornado, with winds over 100 miles per hour, touched down in Bradford County.</p><p>The National Weather Service confirmed on its Facebook page the tornado did touch down north of Wyalusing.</p><p>&#8220;It was an interesting night, that&#8217;s for sure,&#8221; Clark said.</p><p>Clark noted that, despite it being February, thunder and lightning is &#8220;unusual, but it&#8217;s not unheard of.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Busy night for emergency responders</strong></p><p>Heavy rain, thunder and lighting pummeled the area, making for a busy night for emergency responders.</p><p>In Larksville, crews were dispatched at 5:15 p.m. to fight a fire that sparked in an abandoned building on Vine Street. Steady rain made for wet and muddy conditions for responders at the scene.</p><p>Kingston Fire Chief Frank Guido said that municipality was hit especially hard once the heavier weather came later in the evening.</p><p>Guido said from 7:46 to 9:57 p.m., his department moved &#8220;non-stop&#8221; to a flurry of weather-related calls. Within one hour, his department was dispatched to 17 calls, ranging from downed poles, trees and wires to flooded streets.</p><p>Guido added all calls were weather-related.</p><p>A tree actually struck a residence on Second Avenue, causing major damage to the structure.</p><p>&#8220;We had some really significant damage,&#8221; Guido said. &#8220;The guys were really, really busy.&#8221;</p><p>Garrett Hittle, deputy director of Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency, said all calls were handled by municipal agencies.</p><p>When the weather first struck the area, PPL reported over 1,000 power outages in Wilkes-Barre, with an additional 350 reported in Pittston.</p><p>According toPPL spokesman Joe Nixon, power had been restored to 4,800 customers in Luzerne County as of 1 p.m. Wednesday. He added that, as of that time, crews were still working to restore power to an additional 440 customers.</p><p>Clark said most of the reported damage was from gusty winds. He said low-lying areas and poor drainage may have flooded and streams have swelled.</p><p><strong>Rising river</strong></p><p>The Susquehanna River also rose as a result of the rain.</p><p>According to the National Weather Service, the river was staged at 11.33 feet as of 1 p.m. Thursday. It was projected to hit 18.6 feet at 1 a.m. Friday morning, then gradually lower throughout the weekend.</p><p>Flood stage of the Susquehanna River is 22 feet.</p><p>Both Hittle and Clark said no flooding is expected from the Susquehanna River.</p><p>&#8220;The river is rising rapidly, but is expected to stay below flood stage,&#8221; Clark said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Damage can be seen on Second Avenue in Kingston after Wednesday night&#8217;s storm. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022616weather2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Damage can be seen on Second Avenue in Kingston after Wednesday night&#8217;s storm. </caption0><photoCredit0>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022616weather1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A fallen tree caused significant damage to this home on Second Avenue in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022616weather1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>A fallen tree caused significant damage to this home on Second Avenue in Kingston. </caption1><photoCredit1>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Storms cause damage, power outages; river should remain below flood stage