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March's record-setting floods could follow February's record-setting snow storms.

With National Weather Service forecasters warning that the possibility of a flood is more than four times above normal, city officials are preparing to evacuate several low-lying areas and to close flood-prone roads and streets.

"After the snow comes the water, and in March we're notorious for having floods," says Ed Coulter, city emergency management coordinator.

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The snow on the ground in the Mon-Yough area represents 2 to 3 inches of water already, say experts at the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center, based in Minnesota.

In the mountains south of the city --- along streams and creeks that feed the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers --- it's more like 4 to 6 inches of water, the agency says.

Although no flooding is forecast through Wednesday, an NWS report released Friday morning says the outlook could change rapidly.

Forecasters are particularly wary of a storm system expected to develop late next week over Tennessee and then move north toward Western Pennsylvania.

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According to the NWS in Pittsburgh, 3 inches of rain in any 24-hour period could trigger flash flooding in Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

"Given the prevailing storm track, the Upper Ohio River Valley could receive above normal precipitation," the report says. "If there is a surge of warm air with one of these storms, producing quick snow melt, flooding is likely."

The ground is already saturated with water, and a combination of rapidly warming temperatures and several inches of rain could cause flooding, the agency says.

Flood-control reservoirs have already been lowered below normal levels in anticipation of "above normal snowmelt," according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Pittsburgh District.

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There's recent precedent for such an event. In January 1996, storms dropped more than 23 inches of snow on the region. A sudden warm snap a week later combined with heavy rains to trigger floods throughout Western Pennsylvania.

The resulting deluge caused heavy damage at Harrison Village, a public housing complex along the Youghiogheny River in the Third Ward, forcing 800 people to be relocated.

Portions of Route 837 through Dravosburg and West Elizabeth were closed for several days until the water receded.

In Port Vue, Glenn Avenue was closed when Heath's Run spilled over its banks, swamping houses and several auto-repair shops, and many homes in Elizabeth Borough were damaged.

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Coulter says evacuation plans have been readied for Harrison Village and the adjacent Isbir Manor apartment building in the Third Ward along the Youghiogheny River, and for Auberle Street in the East End.

During the 1996 flood, according to published reports, some residents of Harrison Village complained they didn't receive notice to evacuate, and some had to be rescued by firefighters in boats.

If a flood happens this year, Coulter says, city police and McKeesport Housing Authority police will notify Harrison Village and Isbir Manor residents if they need to evacuate.

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In addition, buses will be available to transport residents to the community center at Crawford Village, while firefighters will have two small boats available for emergency rescues.

Medics from McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service will provide emergency medical care for the sick or elderly at the Crawford Village center, Coulter says.

Police and firefighters will be ready to close Walnut Street at Eden Park Boulevard; O'Neil Boulevard between Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus and Amherst Street; Fifth Avenue at Lincoln Way; and other flood-prone sections of road, he says.

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Meanwhile, on Wednesday, city Administrator Dennis Pittman wrote to White Oak officials pledging McKeesport's cooperation if Route 48 floods.

The city thinks the state's recent flood control project along Long Run Creek has addressed many of the problems, Pittman says, but the intersection with Ripple Road may be a concern.

If the intersection is inundated, city police will close Route 48 at its junction with Old Route 48, he says.

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Editor's Note: National Weather Service flood predictions and river observations are available online. Flood-plain maps are available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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