Pittsburgh residents got a brief break from a soggy stretch of weather Saturday morning, with sunshine returning to the region even as a flood watch remained in effect across much of western Pennsylvania through the early hours of Sunday. Forecasters warned that the risk of flash flooding had not passed, with the heaviest rain and storms of the weekend still expected to arrive before the region finally dries out.

The National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh issued the flood watch covering a wide swath of counties across western Pennsylvania, along with adjacent parts of eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. The watch remains in place through early Sunday, with officials warning that saturated ground and already elevated creeks and streams leave the region especially vulnerable to further flooding, even from what would otherwise be considered a moderate amount of rainfall.

Why this weekend carries elevated risk

The greatest chance for widespread rain and storms was expected to arrive Saturday afternoon and stretch into the evening. Forecasters cautioned that some storms could stall over the same locations for an extended period, allowing rainfall to pile up in those spots and sharply raising the threat of flash flooding.

While gusty winds were possible with some of the stronger storm cells, heavy rain and flooding — not wind damage — remained the primary concern for the region........

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