Flash Flood Watch and radar as of 6 p.m. (via NWS)
Update at 10:15 p.m. — Arlington is under a Flood Warning as heavy rain continues to fall. Some flooding is being reported in parts of the area, including along I-66 in Arlington.
10:15p: Flood Warnings in effect through late tonight for much of the DC and Baltimore metro areas with scattered reports of flooding, especially in Arlington and Fairfax counties. Heaviest rain should finally shift east of the DMV by around midnight to 1am. pic.twitter.com/oY0JOPB9NK
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for Arlington which is in effect until Tuesday, October 26th at 2:30AM. Don’t risk it!!TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN. pic.twitter.com/vT1AdGl3UY
Earlier: A rainy night, and possible flooding, is on tap after a line of storms packing gusty winds and downpours blew through Arlington during the evening commute.
More rain is expected to fall on already-saturated ground tonight, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Flash Flood Watch.
More from NWS:
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
550 PM EDT MON OCT 25 2021
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT TUESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF DC, MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS: IN DC, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN MARYLAND, ANNE ARUNDEL, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY, PRINCE GEORGES AND SOUTHERN BALTIMORE. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA AND FAIRFAX.
* UNTIL 2 AM EDT TUESDAY.
* SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN THROUGH THIS EVENING, WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OF UP TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE. HEAVY RAIN IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME MAY RESULT IN RAPID RISES OF WATER ON SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS AND IN URBAN AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
Update at 10:30 a.m. — The Flood Warning expired and the Flash Flood Watch, originally in effect until this afternoon, has been cancelled as the rain moves out.
Earlier: Arlington County is under a Flood Warning this morning.
The warning was issued shortly after 5 a.m. Already areas of minor flooding have been reported, including high standing water along I-66 between East Falls Church and Ballston, which closed all but one eastbound lane, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning is in effect until 7:45 a.m.
More from NWS:
509 AM EDT THU SEP 23 2021
…FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY, ARLINGTON AND EASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTIES AND THE NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH…
AT 509 AM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE FIRST AREA OF HEAVY RAIN HAS EXITED THE WARNED AREA. BETWEEN 0.5 AND 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN, WHICH RESULTED IN SOME MINOR URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING. ADDITIONAL MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FLOODING.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… ALEXANDRIA… GERMANTOWN… ROCKVILLE… BETHESDA… GAITHERSBURG… ANNANDALE… OLNEY… SPRINGFIELD… FORT HUNT… VIENNA… GROVETON… FALLS CHURCH… HUNTINGTON… FORT BELVOIR… PIMMIT HILLS… MCLEAN… AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE… ROSSLYN… CRYSTAL CITY…
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 0.5 TO 1.5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.
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.
620a: Heavy downpours cycling through DC region from south to north. Expect these to continue for at least another hour. pic.twitter.com/x4tXwSx6ZD
VA #FallsChurch I-66 EB btwn US-29/Washington Blvd (x69) & Glebe Rd (x71), high water. 1 left lane gets by. #vatraffic#dctraffic Listen live to WTOP's latest traffic reports every 10 minutes on the 8s. https://t.co/k7ONQAzTiR
Update at 4:20 p.m. — A Flood Warning has now been issued for part of Arlington.
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
411 PM EDT FRI AUG 27 2021
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WARNING FOR URBAN AREA AND SMALL STREAM IN… NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… NORTHWESTERN PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… NORTHWESTERN ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… NORTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE NORTHEASTERN CITY OF FAIRFAX IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…
* UNTIL 715 PM EDT.
* AT 411 PM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY RAIN DUE TO THUNDERSTORMS. FLOODING IS ONGOING OR EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY IN THE WARNED AREA. BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN.
* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… BETHESDA… ANNANDALE… COLLEGE PARK… FAIRFAX… LANGLEY PARK… VIENNA… FALLS CHURCH… MANTUA… PIMMIT HILLS… MCLEAN… FORT TOTTEN… POTOMAC… OAKTON… TYSONS CORNER… HYATTSVILLE… TAKOMA PARK… MERRIFIELD… ADELPHI… LAKE BARCROFT…
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FLOOD PRONE ROADS:
MILITARY ROAD AT 36TH ROAD AT GULF BRANCH…
18TH STREET AT UPTON STREET…
17TH STREET NORTH AT NORTH BUCHANAN ST…
BEACH DR FROM BROAD BRANCH RD TO PINEY BRANCH PKWY…
PICKETT RD AT ACCOTINK CREEK NEAR OLD PICKETT RD…
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.
LWX issues Flood Warning for District of Columbia [DC] and Montgomery, Prince Georges [MD] and Arlington, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, Fairfax [VA] till Aug 27, 7:15 PM EDT https://t.co/6lbPIsR3LCpic.twitter.com/eABa3IadHm
Earlier: Northern portions of Arlington County are under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
A strong storm that’s currently over Reston and parts of Montgomery County is moving east and may affect parts of Arlington. The strong is packing damaging winds up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
More from NWS:
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
305 PM EDT FRI AUG 27 2021
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING…
* UNTIL 345 PM EDT.
* AT 304 PM EDT, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MONTGOMERY VILLAGE TO NEAR POTOMAC TO RESTON, MOVING NORTHEAST 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, ROCKVILLE, BETHESDA, GAITHERSBURG, RESTON, OLNEY, HERNDON, LANGLEY PARK, VIENNA, FALLS CHURCH, PIMMIT HILLS, MCLEAN, AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE, ASPEN HILL, POTOMAC, NORTH BETHESDA, OAKTON, MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, NORTH POTOMAC AND FAIRLAND.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Silver Spring MD, Rockville MD, Bethesda MD until 3:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/JyHEZbEKYS
Update at 4:25 p.m. — “Multiple trees” are reported to be down near the intersection of 14th Street S. and S. Pollard Street in Douglas Park, and along I-66 near the Lee Highway/Route 29 exit, according to the National Weather Service.
Update at 4:10 p.m. — Thousands are without power in Arlington as a result of the storm. Nearly 3,500 homes and businesses are in the dark, according to a Dominion outage map.
Damage is being reported as a result of the storm’s strong winds. On 22nd Street N. at Military Road firefighters are on scene of a large tree that fell, took down power lines and caused a reported transformer explosion. On the 3900 block of Vacation Lane, a tree reportedly fell into a house.
The outages are causing problems, meanwhile, like a reported stuck elevator with people in it at the Costco in Pentagon City.
Local residents have been reporting hail, booming thunder, and standing water in roadways throughout the county. The Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been extended until 4:45 p.m. and northern Arlington is under a new warning.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Silver Spring MD, Bethesda MD, McLean VA until 4:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/4uGyTLyuCB
Update at 3:50 p.m. — The storm appears to be expanding on radar. In Ballston, very strong winds have knocked down furniture in sidewalk cafes.
The National Weather Service, meanwhile, just issued a Flood Warning for Arlington.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-ARLINGTON VA-
345 PM EDT THU AUG 26 2021
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WARNING FOR… WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…
* UNTIL 645 PM EDT.
* AT 345 PM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY RAIN DUE TO THUNDERSTORMS. FLOODING IS ONGOING OR EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY IN THE WARNED AREA. BETWEEN 0.5 AND 1 INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN.
* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… ALEXANDRIA… ROSSLYN… CRYSTAL CITY… REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT… NATIONALS PARK… GEORGETOWN… BALLSTON… ROCK CREEK… THE WHITE HOUSE… CHERRYDALE… BARCROFT… THE MALL…
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.
#BREAKING: New Flood Warning has been issued for portions of Arlington and DC until 6:45PM. Between 0.5-1 inch of rain has fallen and an additional 1-2 inches possible. Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. #VAwx#DCwxhttps://t.co/WUO6CybhRO
— Washingtonian Weather Geeks (@WashingtonianWx) August 26, 2021
Earlier: Most of Arlington is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
The warning was issued after a strong storm popped up over Arlington and Alexandria, with heavy rain and frequent lightning.
More from the National Weather Service:
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
331 PM EDT THU AUG 26 2021
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… WEST CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… EAST CENTRAL FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…
* UNTIL 415 PM EDT.
* AT 331 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER ARLINGTON, MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 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, ANNANDALE, HUNTINGTON, CORAL HILLS, BLADENSBURG, NATIONAL HARBOR, NATIONALS PARK, FEDEX FIELD, HOWARD UNIVERSITY, GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY, FORT TOTTEN, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, ROSSLYN, CRYSTAL CITY, RFK STADIUM, LANDOVER, LINCOLNIA, HYATTSVILLE AND TAKOMA PARK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Washington DC, Arlington VA, Alexandria VA until 4:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/g8mtdbckQg
— Matt Ritter, Multimedia Meteorologist (@MetMattRitter) August 20, 2021
Update at 9:15 a.m. — Heavy rain continues around Arlington, though no major flood-related issues have been reported in the county as of yet. One possibly weather-related incident has closed all lanes of the GW Parkway, however: a tree has fallen across the parkway, blocking all lanes just south of Chain Bridge.
LOCATION: GW Parkway South of Chain Bridge INCIDENT: Trees Down IMPACT: All lanes of GW Parkway NB and SB are blocked. Seek Alternate Routes. pic.twitter.com/OLb8UZhFVO
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
755 AM EDT FRI AUG 20 2021
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… SOUTH CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… NORTHEASTERN ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…
* UNTIL NOON EDT.
* AT 755 AM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. BETWEEN 1 AND 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 0.5 TO 1.5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA. FLASH FLOODING IS ONGOING OR EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WARNING FOR… DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… NORTHWESTERN PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… SOUTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…
* UNTIL 145 PM EDT FRIDAY.
* AT 735 AM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY RAIN. FLOODING IS ONGOING OR EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY IN THE WARNED AREA. BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN.
* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… ALEXANDRIA… BETHESDA… ANNANDALE… SPRINGFIELD… COLLEGE PARK… FORT WASHINGTON… GREENBELT… LANGLEY PARK… BELTSVILLE… FORT HUNT… GROVETON… FALLS CHURCH… HUNTINGTON… CORAL HILLS… BLADENSBURG… MANTUA… FORT BELVOIR… PIMMIT HILLS… NATIONAL HARBOR…
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FLOOD PRONE ROADS:
MILITARY ROAD AT 36TH ROAD AT GULF BRANCH…
18TH STREET AT UPTON STREET…
17TH STREET NORTH AT NORTH BUCHANAN ST…
SOUTH TROY STREET NEAR LONG BRANCH…
WEST STREET NEAR BRADDOCK ROAD…
HOLMES RUN BELOW LAKE BARCROFT…
RHODE ISLAND AVE NE BETWEEN 2ND AND CAPITOL…
BEACH DR FROM BROAD BRANCH RD TO PINEY BRANCH PKWY…
WOODBURN ROAD AT ACCOTINK CREEK…
CONNECTICUT AVENUE JUST NORTH OF THE BELTWAY…
UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AT SLIGO CREEK…
BEACH DRIVE ALONG ROCK CREEK…
SLIGO CREEK PARKWAY…
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.
Update at 12:30 a.m. — Parts of north Arlington are under another Flash Flood Warning after a heavy downpour soaked the area late Monday night. Another round of heavy rain is approaching the area.
Flash Flood Warning including Arlington VA, Silver Spring MD, Bethesda MD until 2:30 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/woKHUQEpjc
We get a brief break, but more heavy rain should arrive around or shortly after 1 a.m.; another half inch to an inch is possible throughout D.C. and surrounding counties.
Earlier: Arlington and surrounding areas are under a new Flash Flood Warning Monday evening.
An area of very heavy heavy rain is moving north into Alexandria and Arlington. The rain is likely to cause flash flooding, forecasters say.
More from the National Weather Service:
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
524 PM EDT MON AUG 16 2021
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… CENTRAL DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… WEST CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… SOUTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…
* UNTIL 815 PM EDT.
* AT 524 PM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN MOVING INTO THE WARNED AREA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITHIN AN HOUR. FLASH FLOODING IS ONGOING OR EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.
If you live/work/are in the area circled in green, heavy rain is forming, this will cause FLASH FLOODING (rapidly rising water). If you are near an area where this has happened before, take note especially! pic.twitter.com/ooHMkGyXpD
Power outages in Arlington at 6:20 p.m. (via Dominion)
Update at 11:15 p.m. — The number of outages in Arlington is now down to 2,655, according to Dominion.
Update at 9:35 p.m. — About 4,000 Dominion customers are still in the dark in Arlington. Power was restored to more than 1,000 homes and businesses over the past three hours.
Powerful storm left lots of damage w/ 72,000 @DominionEnergy outages in NoVa. ➡️Stay away from downed lines! ➡️If you have an outage or wires down call 866-DOM-HELP/866-366-4367 Our crews are working quickly & safely to get everyone’s power back ASAP! Thank you for your patience. pic.twitter.com/0ZltoDiWBV
Update at 6:20 p.m. — Dominion is reporting 5,015 homes and businesses without power in Arlington, the wake of a strong storm that moved through the area and downed trees and utility lines. Most of the outages are concentrated along Arlington’s northwestern border. There are also extensive outages in the City of Falls Church, according to an outage map.
Please only call 9-1-1 for a life-threatening emergency. Call the non-emergency line at 703-558-2222 for all else. https://t.co/SfVz3iwo78
Earlier: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Arlington.
A strong storm packing damaging winds is heading east in the direction of Arlington, forecasters say. Anyone outside should seek cover.
More from the National Weather Service:
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
512 PM EDT TUE AUG 10 2021
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… THE CITY OF FAIRFAX IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… 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 600 PM EDT.
* AT 512 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER MERRIFIELD, OR OVER MANTUA, MOVING EAST AT 15 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, ANNANDALE, SPRINGFIELD, FAIRFAX, VIENNA, GROVETON, FALLS CHURCH, HUNTINGTON, MANTUA, PIMMIT HILLS, NATIONAL HARBOR, AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, MCLEAN, ROSSLYN, CRYSTAL CITY, BURKE, OAKTON AND LINCOLNIA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.
Power outages after storm, as of 11 p.m. (via Dominion)
Update at 11:05 p.m. — Dominion is currently reporting 2,050 customers without power in Arlington, mostly in northern and western parts of the county. More than 19,500 customers are also without power in Falls Church and Fairfax County after the powerful storm.
Wow! A short but powerful storm w/ lots of lightning strikes & strong winds left 20,000 @DominionEnergy NoVa customers in the dark!
I’m one of them!
➡️Our team is working fast to reroute power but damage will take time to fix.
Earlier: Arlington County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
A line of strong storms packing gusty winds is moving through the county from north to south. Expect power outages and the possibility of downed trees and power lines.
As of 10:35 p.m., the strongest part of the storm was over parts of western Arlington County including East Falls Church.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Burke VA, Annandale VA, Springfield VA until 11:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/0HusBrfWB1
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 29, 2021
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Washington DC, Arlington VA, Alexandria VA until 10:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/qD97G2Y9TL
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 29, 2021
1020p: Storm cells have multiplied and are now impacting downtown DC to Reston and Alexandria, pushing south toward Burke, Annandale and Springfield. Updates: https://t.co/t6cO3Nh4OVpic.twitter.com/X7Md347jaw
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) July 29, 2021
Earlier: The Arlington County Fire Department responded to “multiple calls for service” after a Tornado Warning was issued for parts of the county.
The fire department said shortly after 9 p.m. that it was swamped with calls and was “prioritizing life threatening emergencies.” Among the most serious calls were a man trapped after a tree fell on his house and an overturned vehicle near Columbia Pike.
“Calls for downed trees, stuck elevators and downed power lines are being addressed as units are available,” ACFD said on social media.
The National Weather Service says it will be surveying storm damage in Arlington to determine whether a tornado touched down.
“The National Weather Service will conduct a preliminary, first-look storm survey tonight in Arlington the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County,” NWS said in a statement. “We will perform a preliminary assessment to determine whether wind damage that occurred… was caused by a tornado or straight line winds.”
The final assessment is expected to be released on Friday.
The storm caused widespread damage and power outages in the county, mostly north of Route 50. As of 11:15 p.m., over 11,000 Dominion customers were still without power in Arlington, according to the power company.
Power outages in Arlington as of 10 p.m. (via Dominion)
Among the reported incidents first responders were dispatched to tonight were a tree down on a house with a man trapped on 16th Street N., several blocks from Washington-Liberty High School; an overturned vehicle on Washington Blvd north of Columbia Pike; and a tree on a car on Route 50 and N. Fillmore Street.
The person pinned in the house by the fallen tree has been rescued and brought to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the fire department said. Two other people were reportedly in the house at the time but made it out okay, according to scanner traffic.
Two people were reported to have suffered significant injuries in the crash involving an overturned vehicle on Washington Blvd, near the Columbia Pike exit ramp. The crash happened around the same time as the storm struck. The two injured people were transported via ambulance to a local trauma center.
There were numerous other reports of trees, light poles and utility lines down, including at:
N. Kirkwood Road and 13th Street N.
Washington Blvd and Route 50
N. George Mason Drive and 22nd Street N.
N. Utah Street and 20th Street N.
N. Buchanan Street and 22nd Road N.
N. Upton Street and 20th Road N.
Columbia Pike and S. Adams Street
McKinley Road and 9th Road N.
N. Illinois Street and 22nd Street S.
N. Highland Street and Key Blvd
21st Street N. and N. Nottingham Street
Spout Run Parkway at Lorcom Lane
1500 block of S. Clark Street
The likely tornado path, based on weather radar and damage reports, would have taken it east from the Falls Church area, to the Waverly Hills neighborhood and the area around Washington-Liberty High School, and finally over into central portions of the District including the National Mall and Nationals Park.
Tornado Warned storm left rotation track right through the middle of Washington, D.C. around 9:10 PM! Trees down in Falls Church, winds gusted >50 southeast of DC! #DCwxpic.twitter.com/l83k7kiia6
Residents are being encouraged to stay home or take “extreme caution” if out tonight due to the storm damage.
If you are in Arlington, DC, or nearby in the greater metro area: use extreme caution if out and about tonight. There are likely lots of hanging branches and leaning trees from earlier storms which may fall overnight. Avoid wooded areas, downed wires, and flooded or closed roads.
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 2, 2021
The urgent alerts for the Tornado Warning sounded just before 9 p.m. as a line of strong storms approached. Arlington was also currently under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and a Flash Flood Warning.
The original warning, from the National Weather Service:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING…
* UNTIL 930 PM EDT.
* AT 858 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER BALLSTON, OR OVER ARLINGTON, MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
HAZARD…TORNADO.
SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.
IMPACT…FOR THOSE IN THE DIRECT PATH OF A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN, FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. DAMAGE TO ROOFS, SIDING, AND WINDOWS MAY OCCUR. MOBILE HOMES MAY BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. TREE DAMAGE IS LIKELY.
* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR… CRYSTAL CITY AROUND 905 PM EDT. NATIONALS PARK, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY, ANACOSTIA AND US CAPITOL AROUND 910 PM EDT.
Video footage from around the time of the warning shows dark clouds bearing down on the county as very strong winds whip up, and the shadowy outline of what looks somewhat like a funnel cloud.
Hope you don’t mind my cropping. It might just be shadows playing tricks… But lowering (and twist?) from dark area in middle of frame sure looks suspicious. Good correlation to radar velo (by my estimate). Hope Twitter video compression doesn’t kill. pic.twitter.com/bkNRRbSX1s
Update at 4:15 p.m. — The earlier severe thunderstorm watch and warning have both been cancelled.
Update at 3:40 p.m. — Just over 1,400 Dominion customers in Arlington are without power, according to preliminary numbers from the power company’s website.
Update at 3:30 p.m. — A 58 mph wind gust was recorded at Reagan National Airport, according to the National Weather Service. Some downed trees and power outages are being reported around Arlington as the storm dies down.
Update at 3:20 p.m. — A Flash Flood Warning has been issued amid ongoing heavy rains. From NWS:
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
314 PM EDT THU JUL 1 2021
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… EAST CENTRAL FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…
* UNTIL 615 PM EDT.
* AT 314 PM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. BETWEEN 0.5 AND 1 INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA. FLASH FLOODING IS ONGOING OR EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.
IMPACT…LIFE THREATENING FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS AND STREAMS, URBAN AREAS, HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND UNDERPASSES.
Update at 2:55 p.m. — Arlington is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. Take cover!
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Washington DC, Arlington VA, Alexandria VA until 3:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/GRiN0pbcVV
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 1, 2021
Update at 12:45 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has now been issued for the region.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of DE, DC, MD, NJ, PA, VA until 8 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/sOkYmuP7Kr
— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) July 1, 2021
Earlier: It’s dry now, but expect rain and storms later this afternoon and evening.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Arlington and other parts of the region, starting at 2 p.m. and running through Friday morning. Forecasters are also warning that storms may pack damaging winds in addition to downpours.
More from the National Weather Service:
The Flash Flood Watch continues…
* From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through Friday morning.
* Several rounds of thunderstorms are expected this afternoon through early Friday morning with localized rainfall rates of up to 1-2 inches per hour possible. Total rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 4 inches are possible.
* Heavy rain in short periods of time will cause the potential for streams and creeks to quickly rise out of their banks as well as the potential for flash flooding in urban areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
A Flash Flood Watch has been issued from Thursday Afternoon through Friday morning for counties east of the Blue Ridge. Showers and thunderstorms can produce heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding. #MDwx#VAwx#DCwx#WVwxpic.twitter.com/iVbjd7JMgD
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) June 30, 2021
An active weather day across this region with multiple rounds of showers/thunderstorms expected. Portions of the area are in a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms, while others are in a Flash Flood Watch. Stay weather ready and be prepared to take shelter if a storm approaches. pic.twitter.com/wkhbMWRKo9
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 1, 2021
A Slight risk of severe storms is forecast for late this morning into the afternoon in portions of the Mid-Atlantic. Damaging winds will be the primary hazard. More details and forecast updates: https://t.co/QMmU4tkoeTpic.twitter.com/eHAUTtbLZP
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) July 1, 2021
Weather radar as of 5:10 p.m. (via National Weather Service)
Northern portions of Arlington County are now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
A line of strong storms is approaching the area and may pack damaging wind gusts.
More from the National Weather Service:
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
502 PM EDT Mon Jun 21 2021
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning…
* Until 545 PM EDT.
* At 501 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Ballenger Creek to Leesburg to near The Plains, moving east at 35 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.
