Arlington Under Tornado Watch

Arlington and the surrounding D.C. region is now under a Tornado Watch.

The warning of possible tornadic activity comes as a strong storm front approaches the area. We’re also under a Flash Flood Watch and a Wind Advisory. From the National Weather Service:

… WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY… WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY.

* TIMING… THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* WINDS… SOUTH 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS 45 TO 50 MPH. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT OVERNIGHT.

* IMPACTS… THE STRONG WINDS COULD BRING DOWN TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES. UNSECURED OBJECTS MAY BE BLOWN ABOUT… AND HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT… ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES

Also from the National Weather Service:

… FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT…

* THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* A LINE OF HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT… BRINGING AROUND TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL… MUCH OF IT FALLING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE IN THE RUGGED TERRAIN OF THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS… AS WELL AS THE URBANIZED AREAS OF WASHINGTON DC AND BALTIMORE.

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.