Flash Flood Watch Today — Arlington and much of the region is again under a Flash Flood Watch today and through early Saturday. Heavy rains expected during the day and evening may cause flash flooding, forecasters say. [Twitter, Weather.gov]
Smoke the Dog Visits Nats Park — Smoke, the Arlington shelter dog with terminal cancer who’s become an internet star for his quest to check off his “bucket list,” had quite a Thursday. The hound got to visit home plate at Nationals Park yesterday, and also got to go home to a new adoptive dog mom. [WJLA]
Arlington Unemployment Rate Still Lowest in Va. — “Despite a second month in a row of upticks, Arlington’s unemployment rate in June remained the envy of Virginia’s 132 other cities and counties. With 150,837 county residents in the civilian workforce and 3,393 looking for jobs, Arlington’s non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 2.2 percent in June was lowest in the commonwealth.” [InsideNova]
Arlington and much of the region is under a Flash Flood Watch today.
Forecasters are warning of the possibility of “multiple rounds of torrential rainfall” that could result in flash flooding given the already-saturated ground.
More from the National Weather Service:
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS EXPANDED THE * FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO INCLUDE PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA… MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR TARGETED AREAS THROUGH TONIGHT. GIVEN SATURATED SOIL FROM RECENT RAINFALL, REPETITIVE HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING. * URBAN AREAS, LOCATIONS ALONG SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS, AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO FLASH FLOODING. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH FRIDAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED. &&
Flash #Flood Watch through tonight for areas shaded in dark green (eastern WV, much of MD west of bay, DC/Baltimore metros, I-81 corridor/Shenandoah Valley and central VA). Repeated heavy showers and thunderstorms may result in rapid rises of water. Be alert, avoid flooded areas. pic.twitter.com/iuBGIl9S3G
Arlington County is among the areas under a Flash Flood Watch Thursday afternoon through early Friday morning.
Forecasters say slow-moving storms may develop and drop several inches of rain in a short period of time.
More from the National Weather Service:
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT… NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE PAST MIDNIGHT. LOCALIZED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED. * RAPID RISES OF CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO TORRENTIAL RAINFALL, POTENTIALLY SPILLING BEYOND THEIR BANKS. IN ADDITION, LOW POINTS ALONG ROADWAYS MAY BECOME IMPASSIBLE DUE TO ACCUMULATING RUNOFF. FLASH FLOODING MAY DEVELOP QUICKLY. 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. &&
A Flash Flood Watch has been posted today for much of the region (dark green). Focus will be I-81 today & metro corridor tonight. Be prepared to seek higher ground should flooding develop. Don't drive through flooded roadways, as this is a leading cause of death due to floods. pic.twitter.com/96HY4JY7GC
Update at 5:15 p.m. — As heavy rain continues to fall, high water has been reported on a number of roads, including: along Route 50; on Route 110 below Memorial Drive; at the intersections of Lorcom Lane and Lee Highway; Old Dominion Drive and N. Thomas Street; and at the intersection of N. Quantico Street and 26th Street N.
Update at 4:45 p.m. — The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for Arlington and surrounding areas.
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a
* Flood Warning for… The District of Columbia… Southeastern Montgomery County in central Maryland… Central Prince Georges County in central Maryland… The City of Fairfax in northern Virginia… Arlington County in northern Virginia… The City of Falls Church in northern Virginia… Central Fairfax County in northern Virginia… Northeastern Prince William County in northern Virginia… The City of Alexandria in northern Virginia…
* Until 1045 PM EDT Tuesday.
* At 443 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain which will cause flooding. A quick inch or two of rain will be possible on saturated ground.
* Some locations that may experience flooding include… Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Annandale, Clinton, Springfield, College Park, Fort Washington, Greenbelt, Fairfax, Langley Park, Beltsville, Fort Hunt, Vienna, Groveton, Forestville, Falls Church, Huntington, Largo and Coral Hills.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
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.
Earlier: Arlington County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch through 9 p.m. tonight (Tuesday).
As of 4:15 p.m. a line of storms was heading toward the county from the northwest, bringing with it heavy rain and lightning.
Earlier: Arlington County and surrounding areas are currently under a Flash Flood Watch due to expected storms tonight.
Forecasters say heavy rain may lead to flash flooding, as it did last night along Four Mile Run.
More from the National Weather Service:
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT…
A FRONT WILL SAG ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. A COUPLE ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO ACCOMPANY THE FRONT AND SHOULD MOVE ACROSS THE MASON-DIXON REGION LATE AFTERNOON. THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD PUSH FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST INTO EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA, NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND PORTIONS OF NORTHERN MARYLAND DURING THE EVENING. HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIGHTNING WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS WITH THE POTENTIAL OF ENCOUNTERING DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL IN THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD AVERAGE 1 TO 3 INCHES LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY IN SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS.
FLASH FLOODING RISK IS FOR SMALL STREAMS PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AREAS LIKE BALTIMORE AND HAGERSTOWN. 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.
More storms likely late today & thru tonight. While there may be isolated instances of damaging wind & hail, the bigger threat will be from heavy rain & potential for flash flooding. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 3pm-1am for much of the area. #TurnAroundDontDrownpic.twitter.com/NtYzJQsDeY
Update at 2:25 p.m. — Forecasters warn that a derecho is possible tonight. The last such wind event to hit the region caused significant damage on June 29, 2012.
Potential for a derecho…a line of severe thunderstorms producing widespread damaging winds to develop this afternoon & move through parts of the central Appalachians and northern mid Atlantic region including Washington DC metro. Stay alert for warnings and seek safe shelter. pic.twitter.com/rlkbNzJPgV
Earlier: Arlington County and much of the D.C. region is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch today.
The National Weather Service says severe storms are possible later today (Monday)
“Scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and large hail are possible this afternoon and evening,” NWS said in a Hazardous Weather Outlook statement.
#WeatherAlert: Much of Northern Virginia is under a SLIGHT RISK for severe storms this afternoon. This image from our high-res forecast model shows the potential for a severe line of storms reaching I-95 between 6-7pm. Stay with @NBCWashington for updates. pic.twitter.com/xIaZNqNLvU
Here is area covered by severe t'storm watch thru 9p and our severe storm dashboard. We think the immediate metro has highest chance of storms between 6-8p. Details/discussion: https://t.co/CgxFbB265tpic.twitter.com/fkxJpT55Bd
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) May 14, 2018
A chronometer, in for repairs, alongside its original bill of sale
A Van Cleef and Arpels watch
The exterior of Arlington Watch Works
Dan Sabouni didn’t set out to be a watchmaker and repairman.
His shop, Clarendon’s Arlington Watch Works, never would have come to fruition if Sabouni had actually enjoyed working in an automotive engineering office after college.
Luckily for Sabouni, he had worked in a jewelry shop during college, and did repairs for antique shops in D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. Now, he occupies the tiny, 200-square-foot space, between Goody’s Pizza and Rien Tong, at 3127 Wilson Boulevard, repairing, buying, and selling watches.
He initially owned a similar store in Georgetown neighborhood — a spit of a shop with only 90-square-feet of space — and found success there.
“When I opened that shop, everyone thought I was crazy,” said Sabouni, recounting how people would ask him who even fixes watches anymore.
Eventually, he sold the shop in the early 2000s to a friend and began traveling the world with his watch repair money. That was before he was married, “of course,” he pointed out.
Once he “ran out of money,” Sabouni, originally from London, came back to the area. He opened up the new Arlington shop in January 2015. Per square foot, he says, he’s paying more than any other shop.
“For us watchmakers, we can’t afford high rent,” said Sabouni. “So this was small, but yet affordable.”
Though most would think that those seeking less expensive rent would stay away from one of the more bustling Arlington corridors, or even stay out of Arlington as a whole, Sabouni says that the demographic makeup of the county is necessary for his business to grow.
“I have to be in a place where people do have what I’m looking to repair,” he said. “If I were to go down to, you know, Detroit, Michigan — who’s going to spend a thousand dollars or more restoring their dad’s watch?”
“All said and done, I don’t think you’ll ever find a rich watchmaker,” he added. “But it pays the bills, and I do what I like.”
And his clientele seems to like what he does, as well. Looking at a Yelp review page for Arlington Watch Works, 28 of his 29 reviews are five stars.
It usually takes about a day for a repair, if all goes according to plan. But it’s not an easy task, and even just apprenticing with Sabouni takes several years before being allowed to work on a paying client’s piece.
Sabouni still says that he’s still learning himself, and meets almost every Saturday with his mentor to discuss what’s stumping them.
Though watch repairs are certainly at the heart of the business model, Sabouni has a number of expensive watches on his shelves. Some are priced as little as a few hundred dollars, while others on display push the $20,000-$25,000 mark.
One watch on display, which Sabouni unlockws from its case and brings to a work table, is infinitely more delicate than what you could find at department stores.
It’s an $8,900 Van Cleef and Arpels model, handmade, completely see through, and thoroughly filigreed with real gold.
It’s an expensive passion to pick up, and an equally difficult industry to get into. But in an age of industry disruptions and smartphone app development, Sabouni doesn’t see his industry, and his place in it, going away.
“As long as men are men, and want to have their toys — I guess [the industry] will be over when men want to stop playing with their toys.”
Arlington and parts of the D.C. area are under a Flood Watch starting 7 p.m. Saturday.
The National Weather Service says repeated bouts of moderate-to-heavy rain may cause flooding along streams and low-lying areas.
More from NWS:
A Flood Watch has been issued across much of our region starting this evening and continuing through Sunday evening. Repeated rounds of heavy rain may lead to flooding. Please keep aware of the weather tonight through Sunday night; flood warnings may be necessary. pic.twitter.com/qychEKni4W
Rain has overspread the region and periods of rain will affect the region through the remainder of the weekend. Some locations will see in excess of 2". A Flood Watch remains in effect for portions of the area. pic.twitter.com/CPpZO6wD8F
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING… THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR * PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA… A SLOW MOVING FRONT WILL LEAD TO MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1.5 TO 2 INCHES ARE LIKELY, WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS UP TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE. * HEAVY RAIN MAY LEAD TO FLOODING OF STREAMS AND SOME RIVERS. HIGH WATER MAY ALSO DEVELOP IN LOW-LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. 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. &&
FLASH FLOOD WATCH til 7pm for metro DC/northern Piedmont. Rainfall rates of 1-3" possible; multiple storms may track over same area. pic.twitter.com/c2NAsZaK6T
Arlington County is under a flash flood watch until 7 p.m. tonight, with the rest of the D.C. metropolitan area.
The National Weather Service said between one and three inches of rain are possible, with multiple rounds of rainfall throughout the day. More showers are expected this afternoon, and thunderstorms may also hit the region.
NWS advises that those living near rivers, streams and creeks should watch water levels during heavy rain.
The rain is coming down & rush hour is not over yet. Reports of downed trees & ponding. Lights on, go slow, expect debris in road. Be safe.
At 259 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Reston, 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.
Earlier: The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Arlington County, in effect until 9 p.m. tonight.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of DE, DC, MD, NJ, PA, VA until 9 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/x2iwMd6Gec
The watch spreads across an area covering six states on the East Coast. NWS warns of isolated hailstones the size of ping pong balls, wind gusts up to 70 mph and frequent lightning.
STORM TEAM 4 WEATHER ALERT: If you live in an area shaded in pink , severe T'storms are possible this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/ZJejtYU7eg
