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Severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings have been issued for Luzerne County.
According to the National Weather Service, a severe thunderstorm was located over Shickshinny at 12:41 p.m. moving northeast at 20 mph. The storm is expected to impact Pittston at around 2 p.m.
The storm impacted Wilkes-Barre at 1:23 p.m. Heavy rain and hail pummeled Public Square, along with flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder.
The warning is in effect until 2:30 p.m.
A flash flood warning is in effect until 4:45 p.m. Up to an inch and a half of rain has been reported in some areas.
Areas that will experience flooding include Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Nanticoke, Plains, Pittston, Plymouth, Exeter, Swoyersville, Duryea and West Pittston.
Emergency broadcasts indicate motorists are becoming stranded after driving through flooded roadways, and some streets are being shut down due to flooding.
A severe thunderstorm warning means a severe storm has developed and is capable of producing 1-inch diameter hail and winds that could exceed 58 mph.
A flash flood warning is issued when flash flooding — a sudden, violent flood after a heavy rain — is occurring.