Fire Dept. Urges Caution on Roads As Rain Continues

The Arlington County Fire Department is urging residents to “turn around, don’t drown” when encountering a flooded roadway.

A Flood Warning is in effect for Arlington County until 1:30 a.m. as rain continues to fall. More from the National Weather Service:

…A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 AM EST FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA…MONTGOMERY…CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGES… NORTHEASTERN LOUDOUN…ARLINGTON…AND NORTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTIES…THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH AND THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA… AT 735 PM EST, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS REPORTED AREAS OF FLOODING ACROSS THE AREA. BRIGHTON DAM ROAD NEAR THE HOWARD COUNTY/MONTGOMERY COUNTY LINE WITHIN THE PATUXENT RIVER WATERSHED HAS WATER FLOWING ACROSS THE ROADWAY, NECESSITATING A WATER RESCUE. ADDITIONAL CLOSED ROADS ARE BEING REPORTED IN GLENN DALE IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY MD, AND NEAR PHILOMONT ALONG LIME KILN ROAD IN LOUDOUN COUNTY VA. MOTORISTS USING ROCK CREEK PARKWAY FROM SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY INTO NORTHWEST DC SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR FLOODED ROADWAYS. AT 7:15 PM EST, THE GAUGE AT SHERRILL DRIVE ON ROCK CREEK IN NW DC IS WITHIN ONE-HALF FOOT OF FLOOD STAGE, AND IS CONTINUING TO RISE WITH MORE RAIN ON THE WAY OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. IT IS EXPECTED FOR ROCK CREEK TO REACH FLOOD STAGE BY 9:00 PM EST. RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO PERSIST THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS, ESPECIALLY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, WHERE WE ARE ALREADY SEEING FLOODING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS PUT UP BARRICADES ON FLOODED ROADWAYS, DO NOT GO AROUND THE BARRICADES, THINKING YOUR VEHICLE CAN GET THROUGH THE FLOOD WATERS. &&

Numerous flooded roadways and water rescues have been reported in nearby Fairfax County. Arlington County has seen fewer significant problems, but ponding has been reported on some local roads.

Today’s rain helped to make 2018 the wettest year on record for the D.C. area. More showers and drizzle are expected Sunday.

Numerous Flood Warnings across the area this evening. An additional 1-2 inches of rainfall likely overnight, mainly near and north of US-50. Be on alert for standing water, heed road closures, and never drive through flooded roads! Latest: https://t.co/5RyZgpeTAT. #TADD pic.twitter.com/g9BEw315OH

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) December 16, 2018

Take your time driving in the rain tonight. If you encounter any flooded roadways, find another way around. #TurnAroundDontDrown pic.twitter.com/FymScH1iCD

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) December 15, 2018