Weather

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Arlington

Flooding in Arlington on 9/8/11 (courtesy Brendan L.)A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for Arlington County and other D.C. area jurisdictions.

Forecasters say that a prolonged period of heavy rain is likely to cause flash flooding in some low-lying areas and along small streams.

The warning is in effect until 5:30 p.m., while a Flash Flood Watch will remain in effect through early Sunday morning.

From the National Weather Service:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING…

* UNTIL 530 PM EDT

* AT 232 PM EDT… MORE HEAVY RAIN IS MOVING OVER AN AREA THAT WILL TOLERATE LITTLE MORE BEFORE ROADS WILL BEGIN TO BECOME INUNDATED AND SMALL STREAMS WILL BEGIN TO RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS. FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… ROCKVILLE… GAITHERSBURG… COLLEGE PARK… HERNDON… GREENBELT… FAIRFAX… VIENNA… FALLS CHURCH… BLADENSBURG… SPRINGFIELD… SOUTH RIDING… PIMMIT HILLS… MANTUA… DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT… GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY… NATIONALS PARK… CORAL HILLS… WOODBRIDGE AND BETHESDA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TURN AROUND… DONT DROWN BY DRIVING INTO FLOODED ROADS OR ROADS THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

BE VERY CAREFUL DRIVING AS SOME ROADS WILL BE CLOSED… AND LARGE PONDS OF WATER… EVEN ON LARGE INTERSTATES WILL INCREASE YOUR RISK OF LOOSING CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. DRIVE SLOWLY.

WATCH YOUR KIDS TO ENSURE THEY DONT PLAY NEAR FLOOD WATERS.
IF YOU ARE IN A LOW AREA… OR NEAR A DRAINAGE DITCH OR SMALL STREAM… EXPECT RAPID RISES. STAY SAFE AND HEAD TO HIGHER GROUND IF NEEDED.