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UPDATED: Flash Flood Watch Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Updated at 11:10 p.m. — A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for Arlington and much of the region.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH…

* UNTIL 4 AM EDT FRIDAY

* REPEATING ROUNDS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALIZED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IN A RELATIVELY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS MAY CAUSE RAPID RISES OF WATER ON STREAMS AND CREEKS AND IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

Update at 8:05 p.m. — The storm warning has been extended until 8:45 p.m. From the National Weather Service:

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
801 PM EDT THU JUN 4 2020

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING…

* UNTIL 845 PM EDT.

* AT 800 PM EDT, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ADAMS MORGAN TO HUNTINGTON TO NEAR WOODBRIDGE, MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…DAMAGING WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES TO FALL. THIS COULD INJURE THOSE OUTDOORS, AS WELL AS  DAMAGE HOMES AND VEHICLES. ROADWAYS MAY BECOME BLOCKED BY DOWNED TREES. LOCALIZED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE.  UNSECURED LIGHT OBJECTS MAY BECOME PROJECTILES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, WALDORF, BOWIE, CLINTON, FORT WASHINGTON, FORT HUNT, GROVETON, FORESTVILLE, HUNTINGTON, LARGO, CORAL HILLS, BLADENSBURG, LA PLATA, FORT BELVOIR, NATIONAL HARBOR, UPPER MARLBORO, NATIONALS PARK, FEDEX FIELD AND HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

DAMAGING WIND AND CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING  WITH THESE STORMS. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURE’S LEADING KILLERS. REMEMBER, IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER, YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

Update at 7:55 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Arlington through 8:15 p.m.

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Arlington Under Flash Flood Watch Sunday Night

By ARLnow.com

Arlington and other parts of the D.C. area are under a Flash Flood Watch through early Monday morning.

Storms approaching the area might dump 1-2 inches of rain in short order, causing flash flooding, forecasters say.

More from the National Weather Service:

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT MONDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A * FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, AND EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA… SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE AREA THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE UNTIL SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. WITH WET ANTECEDENT CONDITIONS, A RAPIDLY FALLING 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN COULD RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED. &&

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Arlington and D.C. Area Under Flood Watch Thursday

By ARLnow.com

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for most of the day on Thursday.

Forecasters say heavy rain could cause flooding, particularly around streams and low-lying areas. The heaviest rain is expected in the afternoon and evening.

More from NWS:

FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING… WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY EVENING ALONG AND AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL TOTALS OF ONE AND HALF TO TWO AND HALF INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR UP TO FOUR INCHES. * THIS AMOUNT OF RAINFALL WILL LIKELY RESULT IN SMALL STREAM AND MAIN STEM RIVER FLOODING. MODERATE RIVER FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. &&

Photo courtesy Brandon Jones

Freeze Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County and much of the surrounding D.C. region is under a Freeze Warning.

The warning means that temperatures overnight may dip below freezing and kill unprotected plants. In other words: go get your garden covered now. Plus, the water line to your garden hose is also in danger of freezing.

More from the National Weather Service:

…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY… * WHAT…SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES NEAR 30 EXPECTED. * WHERE…PORTIONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CENTRAL, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA. * WHEN…FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY. * IMPACTS…FROST AND FREEZE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS, OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION AND POSSIBLY DAMAGE UNPROTECTED OUTDOOR PLUMBING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… TAKE STEPS NOW TO PROTECT TENDER PLANTS FROM THE COLD. TO PREVENT FREEZING AND POSSIBLE BURSTING OF OUTDOOR WATER PIPES THEY SHOULD BE WRAPPED, DRAINED, OR ALLOWED TO DRIP SLOWLY. THOSE THAT HAVE IN-GROUND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS SHOULD DRAIN THEM AND COVER ABOVE- GROUND PIPES TO PROTECT THEM FROM FREEZING. &&

Later this afternoon, storms and damaging winds are possible in the area as the cold front moves in.

JUST IN: Tornado Watch Issued for Arlington, D.C. Area

By ARLnow.com

Arlington and most of the metropolitan D.C. area are now under a Tornado Watch.

While a Wind Advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m., the National Weather Service has added a Tornado Watch on top of it, also through 6 p.m.

Winds are expected to start whipping up this afternoon, and some tornados may spawn as a storm system makes its way through the Mid-Atlantic and up the East Coast.

Arlington Under Wind Advisory Thursday

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County will be under a Wind Advisory for much of the day tomorrow.

The advisory is in effect from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday. The National Weather Service says gusts of up to 50 mph are expected, potentially causing downed tree limbs and power outages.

More from NWS:

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM EDT THURSDAY… * WHAT…WEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH EXPECTED. * WHERE…THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MARYLAND, CENTRAL, NORTHERN AND NORTHWEST VIRGINIA AND EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA. * WHEN…FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM EDT THURSDAY. * IMPACTS…GUSTY WINDS COULD BLOW AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS. TREE LIMBS COULD BE BLOWN DOWN AND A FEW POWER OUTAGES MAY RESULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY IF OPERATING A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE. SECURE OUTDOOR OBJECTS. &&

Update at 10:45 a.m. — The gusty winds are expected to arrive early this afternoon.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 12:30 a.m.

Forecasters are warning of high winds with an approaching line of storms.

More from the National Weather Service:

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1148 PM EST TUE MAR 3 2020

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING…

* UNTIL 1230 AM EST.

* AT 1147 PM EST, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FAIRLAND TO BETHESDA TO NEAR CENTREVILLE, MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…DAMAGING WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES  TO FALL. THIS COULD INJURE THOSE OUTDOORS, AS WELL AS  DAMAGE HOMES AND VEHICLES. ROADWAYS MAY BECOME BLOCKED BY  DOWNED TREES. LOCALIZED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE. UNSECURED LIGHT OBJECTS MAY BECOME PROJECTILES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, CENTREVILLE, ROCKVILLE, BETHESDA, RESTON, BOWIE, ANNANDALE, ANNAPOLIS, CLINTON, SPRINGFIELD, COLLEGE PARK, CROFTON, FORT WASHINGTON, GREENBELT, FAIRFAX, LANGLEY PARK, BELTSVILLE, VIENNA AND GROVETON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

WIND DAMAGE WITH THESE STORMS WILL OCCUR BEFORE ANY LIGHTNING. DO  NOT WAIT FOR THE SOUND OF THUNDER BEFORE TAKING COVER. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

Morning Poll: What Do You Think of This Mild, Damp Winter?

By ARLnow.com

This winter in Arlington has been an anomaly.

It’s the only winter since 1932 in which the temperature has failed to drop below 22 degrees. And it’s generally been cloudy, rainy and — well — pretty gloomy.

Snow has been (and, at least for the next week or two, will remain) hard to come by, and students have yet to have a full snow day. That’s bad for snow lovers, though parents and road crews no doubt appreciate the relief.

Meanwhile, the rain will return tonight, ahead of some cold, dry, snowless weather.

How would you rate the weather so far this winter?

Arlington Under Wind Advisory Friday

By ARLnow.com

The Flood Watch has been cancelled, but now the wind is the next possible hazard Arlington and the D.C. region will face.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Gusts of up to 50 mph are expected.

More from NWS:

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM EST FRIDAY… * WHAT…WEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH EXPECTED. * WHERE…THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PORTIONS OF CENTRAL, NORTH CENTRAL, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND THE EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. * WHEN…FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM EST FRIDAY. * IMPACTS…GUSTY WINDS COULD BLOW AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS. TREE LIMBS COULD BE BLOWN DOWN AND A FEW POWER OUTAGES MAY RESULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY IF OPERATING A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE. SECURE OUTDOOR OBJECTS. &&

Gusty Winds In the Forecast This Afternoon

By ARLnow.com

Expect gusty winds to start whipping up soon.

Arlington and much of the region is under a Wind Advisory from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Forecasters say gusts of up to 50 mph are possible, which could down trees and power lines.

After two significant power outages yesterday in Arlington, there’s concern that the wind could lead to more outages today.

More from the National Weather Service:

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON… * WHAT…WEST WINDS 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH EXPECTED. * WHERE…PORTIONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CENTRAL, NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MARYLAND AND NORTHERN AND NORTHWEST VIRGINIA. * WHEN…FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON. * IMPACTS…GUSTY WINDS COULD BLOW AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS. TREE LIMBS COULD BE BLOWN DOWN AND A FEW POWER OUTAGES MAY RESULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY IF OPERATING A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE. SECURE OUTDOOR OBJECTS. &&

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Roads Becoming Snow-Covered in Arlington

By ARLnow.com
1/20

(Updated at 6:45 p.m.) Some local roads around Arlington are becoming snow-covered as moderate-to-heavy snow continues fall into the early evening hours.

Early dismissals for the federal government and local schools resulted in an early rush hour, with I-66, I-395 and Columbia Pike jammed as of 2:45 p.m. Conditions have since improved somewhat, but slow traffic remains on large portions of 395 in Arlington.

Some 1-2 inches of wet snow is expected to fall before the flakes start tapering off around 5 p.m.

“Snow is getting heavier and visibility is dropping,” VDOT said this afternoon. “There’s not much accumulation on the roads, but even a little bit can causes spin outs if people drive like it’s a dry road. We’ve got lots of trucks out treating, but plan for a longer commute.”

ART and Metro buses are continuing to operate on a normal weekday service schedule, though ART warned of “minor delays depending on weather conditions this evening and overnight as snow, and any remaining rain may freeze.”

Most Arlington County facilities and offices remained open this afternoon, though county-run recreational programs after 2 p.m. were cancelled. Trash and recycling collection were suspended for the rest of the day earlier this afternoon.

Though arterial routes and highways were mostly wet, local officials encouraged anyone on the roads to take caution.

“As they head home, commuters and drivers should exercise caution and know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies,” AAA Mid-Atlantic said in a press release. “Some research suggests the first snowy day of the year is ‘substantially more dangerous’ for drivers. What’s more, some earlier research revealed some drivers are ‘more likely to become involved in a crash during the first snowfall of the season compared to other snow days.’ Even so, ‘the first winter storms of the season usually result in numerous crashes because people fail to adjust their driving habits to the road conditions,’ area police and transportation officials advise.”

More from Virginia State Police:

Virginians are still advised to do the following if traveling today:

  • Use headlights. Increasing your visibility helps you to avoid slick and dangerous spots on the road, as well as helps other drivers see you better. Also, it’s a state law that if the windshield wipers are active, then headlights must be on.
  • Slow your speed. Though state police works closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to identify problem areas on Virginia’s highways during storms, drivers still must drive for conditions. Slowing your speed gives you more time to safely react and avoid a crash. Drive your vehicle based on your ability to properly maintain control of your vehicle.
  • Don’t tailgate. You need increased stopping distance on slick road surfaces. Give yourself more space between vehicles traveling ahead of you in order to avoid rear end collisions.
  • Buckle Up. Most crashes that occur during winter weather are caused by vehicles sliding into guardrails, off the road or other vehicles. Wearing your seat belt protects you from being thrown around the inside of your vehicle and suffering serious injury in a crash.
  • Check Your Vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order for the conditions. Fill up the tank in advance. Check windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, tire tread, battery life, etc.
  • Don’t leave home without a window scraper, blanket, bottled water, snack, cell phone charger and flashlight.

Forecasters and local officials are warning of a freeze overnight that could turn roads and sidewalks icy, in time for the morning commute.

Some photos above are via users on our Facebook page. Additional snow photos around Arlington, via Twitter, are below after the jump.

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