warning

UPDATED: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:50 p.m.) A strong thunderstorm may be heading in our direction over the next 45 minutes. The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, urging residents to stay alert and seek shelter if necessary.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… CITY OF FAIRFAX IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… NORTHWESTERN ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CENTRAL FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 330 PM EDT

* AT 242 PM EDT… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LAKE RIDGE… OR 6 MILES NORTH OF DALE CITY… AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… BURKE… MERRIFIELD… MANTUA… FAIRFAX… ANNANDALE… MERRIFIELD… THE I66 AND I495 INTERCHANGE… VIENNA… FALLS CHURCH… PIMMIT HILLS…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH… MOVE INDOORS TO A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO… REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

An earlier Special Weather Statement warned of the possibility of rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.

STORM INTENSITY IS INCREASING… AND SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP RAPIDLY. REMAIN ALERT… AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN BRING DOWN LARGE TREE BRANCHES. TAKE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED

Arlington to Test Outdoor Warning System

By ARLnow.com

Update on 10/27/11 — Arlington OEM advises that the outdoor warning testing may take place a bit later than 10:00 a.m.

Arlington County will be testing its outdoor warning system at 10:00 tomorrow morning, according to the Arlington Office of Emergency Management.

The warning system — those sirens you might hear once in a while — was last tested in May.

It’s unclear if tomorrow’s test will be county-wide or concentrated in a specific area.

Flash Flood Warning Issued

By ARLnow.com

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Arlington and the surrounding region.

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… WEST CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… EASTERN ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… SOUTHEASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… SOUTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 1115 PM EDT

* AT 812 PM EDT… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED AREA. RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE HEAVY RAIN INCLUDE ALEXANDRIA… ARLINGTON… BALLSTON… DUMFRIES… FORT BELVOIR… FRANCONIA… LORTON… NEWINGTON… ROSSLYN… SPRINGFIELD… WOODBRIDGE… HYATTSVILLE… LANDOVER… LANGLEY PARK… ADAMS MORGAN… ANACOSTIA… GEORGETOWN… AND DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS… URBAN AREAS… HIGHWAYS… STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY AUTOMOBILE.

UPDATED: Flash Flood Warning Extended

By ARLnow.com

Update at 11:25 p.m. — A flood warning has been issued for the area, through 5:00 a.m.

Another flash flood warning has been issued for Arlington and the surrounding area.

Heavy rains and thunderstorms moving up from the south are producing a high risk of flash flooding through the night. In the past hour, numerous flooded road have been reported in the City of Falls Church, while at least a dozen flooded basements have been reported in Arlington.

From the National Weather Service:

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… WESTERN PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CHARLES COUNTY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND… NORTHWESTERN ST. MARYS COUNTY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND…

* UNTIL 1230 AM EDT

* AT 825 PM EDT… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED MODERATE TO VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUING OVER THE WASHINGTON DC METRO… WITH THE HEAVIEST TO THE SOUTH AND WEST OF WASHINGTON DC. NUMEROUS ROAD CLOSURES FROM FLASH FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED ACROSS THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH… ARLINGTON COUNTY AND WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF CHARLES COUNTIES. FLASH FLOODING WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE HEAVY RAIN INCLUDE ARLINGTON… INDIAN HEAD… ST. CHARLES… WALDORF… ANACOSTIA… FORT WASHINGTON… PORT TOBACCO RIVER… SWAN POINT AND WICOMICO RIVER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS… HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY… COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS… STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY AUTOMOBILE.

See the previous flash flood warning, after the jump.

(more…)

Excessive Heat Warning Continues Today

By ARLnow.com

If you thought yesterday was hot, get ready for it to get even hotter.

The D.C. area is in the second day of an excessive heat warning. With heat index values expected to reach as high as 120, forecasters are warning people to stay cool and hydrated.

…EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
…EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY…

* TEMPERATURE…HIGH TEMPERATURE FRIDAY IN THE LOWER 100S. HIGH TEMPERATURE SATURDAY AROUND 100.

* HEAT INDEX VALUES…115 TO 120.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

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.

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 STROKEIS AN EMERGENCY – CALL 9 1 1.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued

By ARLnow.com

Arlington and surrounding areas are under a severe thunderstorm warning through 3:15 p.m. A line of strong storms is quickly approaching from the northwest.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CITY OF FAIRFAX IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 315 PM EDT

* AT 231 PM EDT… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WOLF TRAP TO RESTON TO HERNDON… AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… THE I66 AND I495 INTERCHANGE… TYSONS CORNER… PIMMIT HILLS… OAKTON… FALLS CHURCH… MANTUA… FAIRFAX… LINCOLNIA… LAKE BARCROFT… BALLSTON…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH… MOVE INDOORS TO A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO… REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

Flash Flood Watch Issued

By ARLnow.com

You’ll probably want to pack an umbrella this morning.

Numerous downpour-producing storms are expected to hit the Washington area this afternoon and evening. Forecasters are warning that the storms could cause flash flooding.

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT…

* A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL DROP INTO A VERY MOIST AND HUMID AIRMASS
FRIDAY. NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY MIDDAY
FRIDAY…AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING. RAINFALL RATES WITHIN
THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY EXCEED 2 INCHES IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.
SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS POTENTIALLY COULD TRACK ACROSS THE SAME
AREA…RESULTING 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.

Severe Storm Warning Issued for Region

By ARLnow.com

Arlington and much of the surrounding area is under a severe thunderstorm warning through 7:00 p.m.

Storms capable of torrential rain and damaging winds are quickly approaching Arlington and D.C. from the northwest.

Let us know what’s happening in your neighborhood in the comments section.

WEATHER ALERT: Live Storm Updates

By ARLnow.com

Stay here for live updates as storms make their way through our area tonight.

12:55 p.m. — With the exception of some isolated storminess in North Arlington, it looks like we’ve been spared from the latest batch of severe weather.

7:10 p.m. — This round of storms looks like a bust, at least for Arlington. But there are more storms to the southwest that are heading our way later tonight. The National Weather Service has extended the tornado watch for the region until 2:00 a.m.

6:40 p.m. — Storms are passing to the south and north of Arlington at the moment.

6:15 p.m. — A tornado warning has been issued for Fairfax County.

* TORNADO WARNING FOR… STAFFORD COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CHARLES COUNTY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND…

* UNTIL 645 PM EDT

* AT 606 PM EDT… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR TRIANGLE… OR 6 MILES NORTH OF STAFFORD… MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

Outdoor Warning Siren to Sound This Morning

By ARLnow.com

Arlington will be testing its outdoor warning systems in Rosslyn, Courthouse and Pentagon City this morning.

Between 10:00 a.m. and noon, the county’s Office of Emergency Management will sound a series of three loud beeps in each area, followed by a voice broadcast in English and Spanish.

Today is Tornado Preparedness Day in Virginia, with a statewide tornado drill scheduled for 9:45 a.m. A test tornado warning will be broadcast on television and radio stations, as well as on NOAA weather radio. The period between March and May is generally considered peak tornado season.

Tornado Watch Issued for Area

By ARLnow.com

Update at 12:50 p.m. — The tornado watch has been canceled.

Warm temperatures are going to give way to strong storms as a cold front moves through the region later today.

The National Weather Service just issued a Tornado Watch, warning that the storms could include tornadic activity. The watch is in effect until 4:00 p.m.

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