storm

UPDATED: Storm and Flood Warnings and Watches Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Update at 10:15 p.m. — Another Flash Flood Warning has been issued, covering portions of Arlington south of I-66.

Update at 7 p.m. — Perhaps as a result of the storms, a large power outage has been reported in the Fairlington area. Dominion is reporting 1,258 customers currently without power in Arlington County, in addition to those without power across the border in Alexandria.

Updated at 6:55 p.m. — A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for portions of Arlington County along and south of Lee Highway. The warning is in effect until 10:45 p.m. Those walking or driving should avoid flood waters, which could rapidly rise as a result of heavy rain.

Update at 6:20 p.m. — A Flood Warning has now been issued and is set to remain in effect until just after midnight.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR… THE NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… NORTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 1215 AM EDT.

* AT 616 PM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN WHICH WILL CAUSE FLOODING. UP TO ONE INCH OF RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, ANNANDALE, SPRINGFIELD, VIENNA, FALLS CHURCH, HUNTINGTON, MANTUA, PIMMIT HILLS, AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, MCLEAN, ROSSLYN, CRYSTAL CITY, POTOMAC, BURKE, OAKTON, LINCOLNIA, TYSONS CORNER AND FRANCONIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

Update at 5:50 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was just issued for all of Arlington County until 6:30 p.m. A storm with high winds and possible hail is now rumbling into the county.

Update at 5:40 p.m. — A Flash Flood Watch has also been issued for Arlington and much of the area.

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT SATURDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH…

* UNTIL 4 AM EDT SATURDAY

* SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL, WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS BETWEEN 2 AND 4 INCHES LIKELY.

* POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE RAPID RISES OF WATER, FLOODED ROADS, AND FLOODING OF STRUCTURES IN LOW LYING AREAS NEAR STREAMS.

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.

Earlier: Strong storms are possible this evening, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Arlington and the region through 8 p.m.

Forecasters say storms may pack quarter-sized hail, damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning.

Some flooding is also possible. More from NWS:

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR A MAJORITY OF THE WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN AREAS. THE PRIMARY THREAT IS DAMAGING WINDS.

THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE ISOLATED INSTANCES OF FLOODING THROUGH THIS EVENING.

JUST IN: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning through 7:45 p.m.

Forecasters say a strong storm is approaching the county from the northwest, bringing with it wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

More from the National Weather Service:

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
657 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 2020

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING…

* UNTIL 745 PM EDT.

* AT 657 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR RESTON, MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 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, RESTON, ANNANDALE, SPRINGFIELD, FORT WASHINGTON, HERNDON, FAIRFAX, FORT HUNT, VIENNA, GROVETON, FALLS CHURCH, HUNTINGTON, MANTUA, FORT BELVOIR, PIMMIT HILLS, WOODBRIDGE, MCLEAN, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT AND ROSSLYN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for Arlington, Region

By ARLnow.com

Arlington and the entire D.C. region is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch through 11 p.m.

Forecasters say strong storms packing damaging winds, large hail and torrential rainfall are likely this evening, though the storms may be scattered as they approach from the northwest.

More from the National Weather Service:

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 451
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
335 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of District Of Columbia, Delaware, Extreme northeast Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Central and northern Virginia, Southern West Virginia, Coastal Waters

* Effective this Tuesday afternoon and evening from 335 PM until 1100 PM EDT.

* Primary threats include… Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely

Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY…Clusters of severe thunderstorms will move southeast through this evening with a risk for damaging wind gusts and isolated instances of large hail.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles north and south of a line from 35 miles west of Beckley WV to 50 miles east of Dover DE…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

AIM to Spotlight Arlington’s Black Community — “In 2018, Arlington native Wilma Jones published a book about the neighborhood she grew up in. My Halls Hill Family: More Than a Neighborhood details the evolution of a community of freed slaves, which was founded after the Civil War… Jones and Arlington Independent Media (AIM), a nonprofit organization, are launching a multi-part series called UNTOLD: Stories of Black Arlington.” [WDVM]

Interview with Interim Police Chief — “After 29 years with Arlington County, Virginia, Police, Deputy Chief Andy Penn knows a concerning trend when he sees one. Just weeks before moving into the role of interim chief, Penn said addressing an uptick in deadly overdoses was an immediate focus. As of Aug. 18, the county had lost 16 people to overdose deaths, according to Arlington County police data.” [WTOP]

Flu Vaccines Now Available at Giant — “Giant Food announced Monday flu shots are available at in-store pharmacies, including locations in the Arlington area. The flu vaccines are administered by Giant pharmacists and do not require an appointment. A copayment is usually not required through most insurance plans.” [Patch]

Here’s Why Glebe Road Was Closed — “For those wondering, Glebe was blocked just north of Ballston [Sunday] night due to a vehicle that rammed a house’s gas meter, causing a leak. No injuries were reported, some nearby homes were briefly evacuated, per ACFD spokesman.” [Twitter]

Storms Possible This Evening — “[Monday was] the beginning of a several-day stretch of storm threats. [Today] the Storm Prediction Center has the region under an ‘enhanced risk,’ or Level 3 out of 5. On Wednesday, it’s a slight risk at Level 2. As with tomorrow, damaging winds will be the main threat.” [Capital Weather Gang]

Arlington Under Flash Flood Watch Today

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:35 p.m.) After getting drenched by a storm early this morning, Arlington may be getting another round of heavy rain tonight.

The county and the D.C. region is currently under a Flash Flood Watch. Slow-moving storms are expected to form this afternoon, dumping torrential rainfall on ground already saturated by the morning storm and Isaias earlier this week — a recipe for flooding.

The watch is now in effect until 6 a.m. Friday; it was originally set to expire at midnight but was extended Thursday afternoon.

More from the National Weather Service:

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…

Through this evening… Numerous slow moving showers and thunderstorms continue to develop across the region and should expand and redevelop with time. Locations which are repetitively affected could receive multiple-inch rainfall totals. This could lead to rapid rises on streams and flash flooding of low lying 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.

Image via The Weather Channel

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Storm Results in Minor Damage — Isaias only caused minor damage in Arlington as it roared past the D.C. area as a tropical storm. Arlington received about 2 inches of rain and some gusty winds as the storm passed. The rain did cause Four Mile Run to top its banks and cover the bike path near Carlin Springs Road. [Twitter]

Thousands of Local Renters Seeking Help — Arlington County “has been besieged with requests for help — in the eight months before the county declared an emergency because of the pandemic, her division received 821 requests for financial- and eviction-prevention assistance. Between March and May, that number was 2,378. The county hired temporary workers to supplement the county workers, who are working from home, and is trying to assist residents, some of whom don’t have Internet access and must rely on sending and receiving forms by mail.” [Washington Post]

Lots of Retail Rent Not Getting Paid — “Retail tenants have been hardest hit during the pandemic, across the board and for JBG Smith. The company collected 58% of rent due from those tenants in the second quarter, compared with nearly 99% for office and 98.5% for multifamily… JBG Smith is exploring the possibility of incorporating ghost kitchens, or food preparation facilities for delivery-only meals, to fill some of the void created by empty retail spaces as a temporary measure.” [Washington Business Journal]

Arlington GOP vs. WaPo Reporter — The Arlington County Republican Committee, in response to a Washington Post article about its chairman’s social media posts, posted the following on Twitter last night: “#FakeNews opinion columnist @psullivan1 was forced to change her slanderous headline… She apologizes for Communist China, but falls all over herself for a headline. lol, Peopermint Patti” [Twitter]

This One Time, Not at Band Camp — “APS has decided to cancel all August activities until further notice. The WL marching band camp for 2020 has been canceled.” [Twitter]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Storm May Affect Waste Collection — “In preparation for the upcoming storm ‘Isaias,’ residents should properly secure trash, recycling, and yard waste carts in case of flooding and high winds… The storm may cause additional delays in collection services. Please leave un-serviced carts at the curb (if not a flood risk) until they are collected.” [Arlington County]

County COVID Testing Sites Closed — “Arlington’s COVID-19 sample collection sites at 1429 N. Quincy Street and Arlington Mill Community Center will be CLOSED Tuesday, August 4, in anticipation of inclement weather.” [Arlington County]

Apartment Operator Suspends Evictions — “AHC Inc., one of the D.C. region’s largest managers of affordable housing, will not move to evict any of its residents struggling amid the coronavirus crisis for the rest of the year. The company announced the move in a letter to roughly 5,000 tenants in late July, just before August rents started to come due. The Arlington company also said it won’t charge any late fees for missed payments, or seek to impose any rent increases, until at least Jan. 1.” [Washington Business Journal]

Stabbing in Ballston on Sunday — “At approximately 5:55 p.m. on August 2, police were dispatched to the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers made contact with Metro Transit Police, who had already arrived on scene and detained the suspect. The investigation determined that the victim was sitting in the park when the suspect allegedly approached him from behind and struck him with a sharp object, causing a laceration. The victim was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.” [Arlington County]

Boy Scout Troop Donates Food — “Scout families and members of Troop 167 in Arlington delivered 1,500 packages of food to local families facing unemployment and financial instability during the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic.” [Patch]

New Officers Sworn In — ” In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arlington County Police Department added 15 new officers to its ranks, following the graduation of Session 142 from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (NVCJA) and their completion of additional, supplementary local training.” [Arlington County]

JUST IN: Arlington Under Tropical Storm Warning Through Tuesday

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) Arlington County is urging residents to prepare today for Tropical Storm Isaias, which is currently making its way up the East Coast.

While windy conditions and some thunderstorms are likely as Isaias approaches this afternoon and evening, the main threat locally is heavy rain. Forecasters say the tropical storm could dump 3-6 inches of rain on the immediate D.C. area, potentially causing flooding.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for Arlington, D.C. and surrounding areas through Tuesday. A Tropical Storm Watch was upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning late Monday morning.

The last time such a warning was issued for Arlington was for Hurricane Irene in 2011. That storm caused moderate damage around Arlington, mostly from felled trees.

More on the storm threat and preparations:

(more…)

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning through 8 p.m. tonight

Forecasters say strong wind and penny-sized hail is possible in a line of storms that’s about to cross the county line.

More from the National Weather Service:

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
726 PM EDT THU JUL 30 2020

…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT…

AT 724 PM EDT, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR BURKE TO 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WOODBRIDGE TO 6 MILES EAST OF POPES CREEK, MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF KNOCKING DOWN NUMEROUS TREES IN KING GEORGE COUNTY.

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, DALE CITY, ANNANDALE, CLINTON, SPRINGFIELD, FORT WASHINGTON, FAIRFAX, FORT HUNT, GROVETON, FALLS CHURCH, HUNTINGTON, LA PLATA, MANTUA, FORT BELVOIR, PIMMIT HILLS, WOODBRIDGE, NATIONAL HARBOR AND QUANTICO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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

UPDATE: Flood Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Update at 10:15 p.m. — A Flood Warning has now been issued for parts of Arlington, with new storms forming over the area.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR…
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA…
WEST CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND…
ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 415 AM EDT FRIDAY.

* AT 1013 PM EDT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLOODING IN SOUTHEAST DC AND FOREST HEIGHTS MARYLAND. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA MAY RESULT IN HEAVY RAINFALL OF UP TO AN INCH.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, FORESTVILLE, FALLS CHURCH, CORAL HILLS, BLADENSBURG, NATIONAL HARBOR, NATIONALS PARK, FEDEX FIELD, HOWARD UNIVERSITY, GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, ROSSLYN, CRYSTAL CITY, RFK STADIUM, LANDOVER, CAMP SPRINGS, OXON HILL, WALKER MILL AND LAKE ARBOR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODING.

Earlier: A portion of Arlington is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

The warning is in effect until 9:30 p.m., as a strong storm with gusty winds, torrential rain and frequent lightning passes through the area.

Arlington is also currently under a Flash Flood Watch.

More from the National Weather Service:

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
846 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2020

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING…

* UNTIL 930 PM EDT.

* AT 845 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER FRIENDLY, OR OVER FORT WASHINGTON, AND IS NEARLY STATIONARY.

HAZARD…ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 60 MPH.

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, DALE CITY, ANNANDALE, CLINTON, SPRINGFIELD, FORT WASHINGTON, FORT HUNT, GROVETON, FALLS CHURCH, HUNTINGTON, FORT BELVOIR, WOODBRIDGE, NATIONAL HARBOR, NATIONALS PARK, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, CRYSTAL CITY, ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, LAKE RIDGE AND BURKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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

BREAKING: Thousands Without Power in Arlington After Storm

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Update at 7 p.m. — Outages in Arlington are now down to just over 3,000 power customers, according to Dominion’s website. Affected neighborhoods include Pentagon City, the Columbia Pike corridor near Penrose Square, the area around Wakefield High School, Lyon Park, Virginia Square, and Old Glebe.

Earlier: The worst of this afternoon’s severe storm has passed, leaving thousands without power in Arlington in its week.

While rain, lightning and thunder continues, the clean-up is getting underway. Dominion reported more than 10,600 customers without power in Arlington as of 4:30 p.m., with outages scattered throughout the county but concentrated in residential North Arlington.

The storm packed strong winds, with Reagan National Airport recording a 58 mile per hour gust.

Police and firefighters are responding to numerous reports of downed trees and wires, as well as sparking electrical transformers, including at:

  • 13th Street S. in the Douglas Park neighborhood
  • N. Utah Street in Waverly Hills
  • N. Irving Street near Clarendon
  • N. Manchester Street near Wilson Blvd
  • S. Utah Street in Fairlington

The power outages have also resulted in a number of calls for stuck elevators, including in Pentagon City. Multiple people are stuck in elevators in parts of the county, according to scanner traffic.

Among those currently without power: Rocklands BBQ in Virginia Square.

View More Stories