UPDATE (3): Storm Brings Wind, Rain to Arlington

Update at 3:45 p.m. — Police are reporting high standing water on eastbound Route 50 in the area of Courthouse.

Update at 3:30 p.m. — Dominion is reporting only 93 customers without power in Arlington at this time.

Update at 3:20 p.m. — A tree has fallen into a house in the Claremont neighborhood, knocking over the chimney, according to scanner traffic. The tree also struck some power lines.

Update at 2:55 p.m. — The National Weather Service has just issued a Flash Flood Warning for Arlington and the surrounding area.

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
250 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… NORTHWESTERN PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… NORTHERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 545 PM EDT

* AT 246 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO 2 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED. AN INCH OF RAIN MAY FALL IN AS LITTLE AS 15 MINUTES…WHICH WILL RAPIDLY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. ADDITIONAL RAIN WOULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE HEAVY RAIN INCLUDE ARLINGTON…BALLSTON…CHANTILLY…FALLS CHURCH…GREAT FALLS… HERNDON…MCLEAN…RESTON…ROSSLYN…TYSONS CORNER…VIENNA… BETHESDA…CHEVY CHASE…COLESVILLE…GAITHERSBURG… GERMANTOWN…OLNEY…POTOMAC…ROCKVILLE…TAKOMA PARK… ANACOSTIA…GEORGETOWN…DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON.

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

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Arlington through 3:15 p.m.

Forecasters are warning of very dangerous conditions during the storm, which is approaching from the southwest.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… CITY OF FAIRFAX IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CITY OF MANASSAS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CITY OF MANASSAS PARK IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… SOUTHEASTERN LOUDOUN COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… EASTERN FAUQUIER COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 315 PM EDT

* AT 213 PM EDT… SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE DETECTED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WARRENTON TO BEALETON… AND WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. THIS LINE OF STORMS IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. SEVERE WINDS ARE EXPECTED DESPITE VERY LITTLE LIGHTNING BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LINE.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… HAYMARKET… MANASSAS… BULL RUN… ARCOLA… SOUTH RIDING… CENTREVILLE… LAKE RIDGE…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

THIS IS A DANGEROUS LINE OF STORMS. 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.

Photo (above) courtesy @jdhague4. Photo (below) courtesy WJLA.