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JUST IN: Severe Thunderstorm, Flash Flood Warnings Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Update at 4:30 p.m. — More than 10,000 Dominion customers are without power in Arlington after the storm.

Earlier: Arlington County is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and a Flash Flood Warning.

Strong storms are nearing the county and could cause flooding and pack damaging winds.

More from the National Weather Service:

343 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2020

…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA…SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY…WESTERN PRINCE GEORGES…ARLINGTON…AND EASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTIES…THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH AND THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA…

AT 342 PM EDT, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NORTH KENSINGTON TO NEAR DALE CITY, MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS STORMS.

HAZARD…75 MPH WIND GUSTS AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…EXPECT CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES. YOUR LIFE IS AT SIGNIFICANT RISK IF OUTDOORS. IN ADDITION TO SOME TREES FALLING INTO HOMES, WIND DAMAGE IS POSSIBLE TO ROOFS, SHEDS, OPEN GARAGES, AND MOBILE HOMES.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, BETHESDA, BOWIE, ANNANDALE, CLINTON, SPRINGFIELD, COLLEGE PARK, FORT WASHINGTON, GREENBELT, FAIRFAX, LANGLEY PARK, BELTSVILLE, FORT HUNT, VIENNA, GROVETON, FORESTVILLE, FALLS CHURCH, HUNTINGTON AND CORAL HILLS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MOBILE HOMES AND HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND MAY BE OVERTURNED. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE.

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.

Hot Temperatures, Strong Storms on Tap for Wednesday

By ARLnow.com

Update at 3:35 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Flash Flood Warning have been issued.

Arlington and surrounding areas are under a Heat Advisory from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., while forecasters caution about the possibility of strong storms later today.

The National Weather Service says damaging winds and flooding rains may cause for a wild weather evening. Around noon today, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for Arlington and the region through 7 p.m.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS, AS WELL AS HEAVY RAINFALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO ISOLATED INSTANCES OF FLASH FLOODING.

Ahead of the storms, a combination of hot temperatures and high humidity could make for dangerous conditions for anyone exerting themselves outdoors. More from NWS:

751 AM EDT WED JUL 22 2020

…HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

* WHAT…HEAT INDEX VALUES UP TO 109 EXPECTED.

* WHERE…THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CENTRAL, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

* WHEN…FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS…HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY MAY CAUSE HEAT ILLNESSES TO OCCUR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS, STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM, STAY OUT OF THE SUN, AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. YOUNG CHILDREN AND PETS SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED IN VEHICLES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE. TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK, THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY! CALL 9 1 1.

CDC RECOMMENDS THAT IF YOU NEED TO GO TO A COOLING CENTER, WEAR A CLOTH FACE COVERING. WHILE YOU ARE THERE, WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP, OR USE HAND SANITIZER, OFTEN. FACE COVERS SHOULD NOT BE USED BY CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 2. THEY ALSO SHOULD NOT BE USED BY PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, OR WHO ARE UNCONSCIOUS, INJURED, OR CAN’T REMOVE THE MASK THEMSELVES.

Power Outages, Dark Traffic Signals Reported in Parts of Arlington

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:55 a.m.) Last night’s intense thunderstorms knocked out power to hundreds of homes across Arlington and darkened traffic signals at some key intersections.

The early morning storms packed torrential rain and strong winds that brought down tree branches, and frequent lightning and thunder that woke many up from their slumbers.

A Flash Flood Warning for Arlington was issued in the midst of the storms, and some local flooding was reported. Route 50 was closed at Glebe Road due to high standing water, and Four Mile Run rose 6.5 feet in 40 minutes, overtopping its north bank, according to the National Weather Service.

In Arlington, nearly 750 Dominion customers were still reported to be without power as of 7 a.m. The outages were scattered, with the larger clusters around Shirlington, Fairlington, Douglas Park and Cherrydale.

Among the intersections with traffic signals reported to be dark is the busy five-points intersection in Cherrydale.

Arlington Under Flash Flood, Severe Thunderstorm Watches

By ARLnow.com

Another round of severe storms packing torrential rainfall and strong winds is possible today.

The National Weather Service has issued both flash flood and severe thunderstorm watches for Arlington and parts of the D.C. region.

The Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 9 p.m., while the Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 11 p.m.

“Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening with locally damaging winds and large hail being the primary threat,” the National Weather Service says. “There is also an isolated threat for flooding.”

More from NWS:

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS, IN MARYLAND, ANNE ARUNDEL, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY, NORTHERN BALTIMORE, NORTHWEST HARFORD, PRINCE GEORGES, SOUTHEAST HARFORD, AND SOUTHERN BALTIMORE. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA.

* UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING

* THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THIS EVENING ALONG THE I-95 CORRIDOR. SOME AREAS MAY EXPERIENCE MULTIPLE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS  OF 1-2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE, WITH SOME ISOLATED AMOUNTS OVER 3  INCHES POSSIBLE. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN OVER URBAN AREAS MAY LEAD TO INSTANCES OF FLASH FLOODING, AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL FOR CREEKS AND STREAMS TO RISE RAPIDLY IF SOME OF THE HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE REALIZED.

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.

Speakers Say Stormwater Bonds Don’t Live Up to Equity Goals

By Vernon Miles

Speakers at an Arlington County Board meeting on the county’s proposed Capital Improvement Plan hammered the plan’s perceived failure to live up to earlier talk of promoting equity.

The main target of most of the ire was the allegation that single-family home owners in North Arlington would receive outsized investment in stormwater protections under the plan, compared to proposed capital spending in the rest of the county.

Rather than the usual 10-year CIP cycle, County Manager Mark Schwartz proposed a one-year CIP focused on pausing and focusing on what the county describes as funding the bare necessities. Given the dramatic storms that wreaked major flooding across Arlington last year, Schwartz recommended a $50.8 million stormwater bond and millions in funding for initial projects.

“This year’s CIP also begins the County’s increased investment in stormwater infrastructure,” the County said in a press release. “The $14.6 million included in the FY 2021 plan will advance several current key projects and lays the foundation of what is expected to be a $189 million investment over 10 years.”

“For the first time, there will be a bond referendum for investments ($50.8 million) in stormwater infrastructure,” the County said. “The County is undertaking a comprehensive review to mitigate flood risks and design work is underway for significant investments in watershed-scale solutions in high-risk areas prone to flooding.”

Several speakers at last week’s online hearing, however, said that the stormwater projects disproportionately aim to protect higher-income areas of the county. Speaker Benjamin Nichols particularly targeted investments made in the Spout Run and Lubber Run watersheds.

“Making huge investments in affluent, low-density areas seems like a step in the wrong direction and seems perverse, given that single-family home development is the majority contributor to the growth of impermeable surface in Arlington County,” Nichols said. “If we’re going to make large investments in these areas on the idea that flooding is unacceptable anywhere in Arlington, we should make sure the benefits should be accrued to a broad constituency beyond the privileged few that can afford to buy a single-family house in North Arlington. Perhaps a significant upzoning would be in order.”

Nichols and other Arlingtonians have argued for funding to be restored to bicycle and pedestrian improvements cut as part of scaled-back CIP.

The criticism of the stormwater investment contrasts with sentiment in the aftermath of the flooding, which caused significant damage to homes and businesses in parts of the county like Westover.

“Do not let Arlington government off hook on flooding,” was the headline of one letter to the editor in the Sun Gazette newspaper. Another letter to the editor from last July similarly called for more county action:

“After years of study and inaction about what to do about the inadequate stormwater system, board members have been spinning rather than trying to assure residents that the problems will be solved,” the letter said. “The time to wait and sit on your hands is over — it is past time to take action.”

The CIP dedicates $26.89 million of the $50.8 million bond to the Spout Run watershed — an area north of Wilson Blvd. centered around Lee Highway communities. The first major investment in the stormwater plan is $1.2 million towards “relining of a 3,000-foot section of 33-inch Spout Run sewer main, which runs under the North Highlands neighborhood.”

(more…)

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) Arlington is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 6 p.m.

A pop-up storm is bringing torrential rain and strong winds to parts of the county.

More from the National Weather Service:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for… The northwestern District of Columbia… South central Montgomery County in central Maryland… Arlington County in northern Virginia… The City of Falls Church in northern Virginia… Northeastern Fairfax County in northern Virginia… The northwestern City of Alexandria in northern Virginia… Until 600 PM EDT. At 508 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Ballston, or over Arlington, and is nearly stationary. HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. 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, Bethesda, Falls Church, Pimmit Hills, Reagan National Airport, Mclean, Rosslyn, Crystal City, Nationals Park, Howard University, Lincolnia, Tysons Corner, Lake Barcroft, Chevy Chase, Martin’s Additions, Anacostia, American University, Friendship Village and Georgetown.

File photo

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.

(more…)

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.

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.

UPDATED: Portions of Ballston, N. Arlington Without Power

By ARLnow.com

Update at 10:45 p.m. — Power has been restored to most of the outage area, but additional outages are possible overnight. On the heels of a Severe Thunderstorm Warning that just expired, a Wind Advisory is now in effect until 4 a.m.:

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT FRIDAY… * WHAT…WEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH EXPECTED. * WHERE…PORTIONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CENTRAL, NORTH CENTRAL, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND, NORTHERN AND NORTHWEST VIRGINIA AND PANHANDLE WEST VIRGINIA. * WHEN…FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM EDT 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. &&

Earlier: Some 2,250 Dominion customers are in the dark this stormy Halloween night, even though the bulk of the storm has yet to move through.

The outage extends from Ballston to the south to the Donaldson Run neighborhood in the north. Power flickered even farther north of the outage area earlier tonight.

The cause of the outage is pending investigation, according to Dominion’s outage map, though breezy conditions have preceded the storm over the past two hours.

JUST IN: Tornado Watch Issued for Arlington, Region

By ARLnow.com

A Tornado Watch has been issued for Arlington and the D.C. region as severe storms threaten dangerous conditions amid tonight’s Halloween festivities.

The Tornado Watch is in effect until midnight.

Forecasters warn that a line of storms packing rain and gusty winds will reach Arlington around 9 p.m. Trick-or-treaters and Halloween partiers should seek shelter ahead of the storms.

The National Weather Service issued a special statement about the storm threat:

…DAMAGING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA BETWEEN MID AFTERNOON AND MIDNIGHT…

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE REGION. THESE STORMS WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WIND  GUSTS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. PLEASE BE SHELTERED WHEN THESE  THUNDERSTORMS PASS THROUGH YOUR AREA.

THE MOST LIKELY TIMING OF THE LINE RANGES FROM MID TO LATE AFTERNOON FOR THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS, TO THE EVENING FOR THE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON METROS, TO BETWEEN 9PM AND MIDNIGHT FOR AREAS EAST OF I-95 TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. THE STORMS WILL LIKELY LAST AN HOUR OR LESS IN MOST AREAS.

STAY INFORMED. FOR MORE EXACT TIMING FOR YOUR LOCATION, CONSULT THE FORECAST FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AT OUR WEBSITE WEATHER.GOV OR OUR FACEBOOK OR TWITTER FEEDS FOR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON.

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