News

UPDATE: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Arlington

By Alex Koma
1/3

Updated at 5 p.m. — Several instances of flooded roadways and five downed trees have been reported in various parts of Arlington after a thunderstorm packing heavy rain, hail and strong, gusty winds rolled through the county at the start of the evening rush hour. Thus far no significant power outages have been reported.

Update at 4:15 p.m. — The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Arlington through 5 p.m. More from NWS:

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
411 PM EDT MON AUG 13 2018

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… SOUTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT.

* AT 410 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER LAKE RIDGE, OR NEAR WOODBRIDGE, MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE…TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN  INDEPENDENT HILL IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY.

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.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, ANNANDALE, SPRINGFIELD, FORT WASHINGTON, FORT HUNT, GROVETON, HUNTINGTON, FORT BELVOIR, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, CRYSTAL CITY, BURKE, LINCOLNIA, LORTON, FRANCONIA, HYBLA VALLEY, NEWINGTON, LAKE BARCROFT, I395 AND I495 INTERCHANGE AND BALLSTON.

Earlier: Weather watchers say some heavy rain this afternoon could produce dangerous flooding in Arlington.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the county and several other jurisdictions around the D.C. region through 10 p.m. today.

The NWS is warning that “slow-moving showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening will be capable of producing intense rainfall rates that could lead to flash flooding.”

Full details from the NWS below:

District of Columbia-Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Shenandoah-
Warren-Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Hardy-
Western Grant-Eastern Grant-
Including the cities of Washington, Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill,
Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Camp Springs,
Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, South Gate, Severna Park, Arnold,
Odenton, Strasburg, Woodstock, Mount Jackson, New Market,
Front Royal, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly,
McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria, Moorefield, Bayard,
Mount Storm, and Petersburg
105 PM EDT Mon Aug 13 2018

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has expanded
the

* Flash Flood Watch to include portions of central Maryland, The
District of Columbia, Virginia, and eastern West Virginia,
including the following areas, in central Maryland, Anne
Arundel and Prince Georges. The District of Columbia. In
Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Fairfax,
Shenandoah, and Warren. In eastern West Virginia, Eastern
Grant, Hardy, and Western Grant.

* Until 10 PM EDT this evening

* Slow moving showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening will be capable of producing intense rainfall rates
that could lead to flash flooding.

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.