Update at 8:15 p.m. — The strong storm that blew through Arlington this evening has left behind fallen trees, widespread power outages and long flight delays at Reagan National Airport.
Dominion Virginia Power is reporting 4,245 customers without power in Arlington — almost 5 percent of all customers in the county. Power outages have been reported in Pentagon City, in Courthouse near I-66 and in the Virginia Square area.
The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall was evacuated during the storm due to a power outage there. Scanner reports suggest firefighters rescued some customers from stuck elevators. The Pentagon Centre mall was also reported to be without power.
Other outages were reported around the intersections of Lee Highway and N. Adams Street and Lee Highway and N. Kirkwood Road, where traffic signals were not functioning.
At Reagan National Airport, meanwhile departure delays of up to one hour and 45 minutes and arrival delays of up to 45 minutes were reported.
Update at 6:50 p.m. — The Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been upgraded to a warning.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING…
* UNTIL 715 PM EDT
* AT 627 PM EDT… TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BROOKLYN PARK TO SOUTH RIDING… AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… ROCKVILLE… BOWIE… COLLEGE PARK… HERNDON… GREENBELT… FAIRFAX… VIENNA… FALLS CHURCH… BLADENSBURG… CROFTON… SPRINGFIELD… SOUTH RIDING… PIMMIT HILLS… BODKIN POINT… BETHESDA… SILLERY BAY… NATIONAL HARBOR… FEDEX FIELD AND LANGLEY PARK.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS… LARGE HAIL… DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR PROTECTION… MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
Earlier: Arlington and the surrounding D.C. area is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.
Forecasters say strong storms are likely this afternoon and evening, as cold front approaches from the west and brings with it a line of storms.
From the National Weather Service.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 346 IS IN EFFECT FOR THE OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH 11 PM. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE PRIMARY THREATS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE.