Update at 3:35 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Flash Flood Warning have been issued.
Arlington and surrounding areas are under a Heat Advisory from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., while forecasters caution about the possibility of strong storms later today.
The National Weather Service says damaging winds and flooding rains may cause for a wild weather evening. Around noon today, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for Arlington and the region through 7 p.m.
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS, AS WELL AS HEAVY RAINFALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO ISOLATED INSTANCES OF FLASH FLOODING.
Ahead of the storms, a combination of hot temperatures and high humidity could make for dangerous conditions for anyone exerting themselves outdoors. More from NWS:
Heat Advisory in effect for areas along/east of the I-95 corridor from noon until 8 PM today, where heat indices of 105-109 degrees are expected. Additionally, severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon/evening, with damaging winds the primary threat. pic.twitter.com/wOqDB9ULs3
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 22, 2020
751 AM EDT WED JUL 22 2020
…HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…HEAT INDEX VALUES UP TO 109 EXPECTED.
* WHERE…THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CENTRAL, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
* WHEN…FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
* IMPACTS…HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY MAY CAUSE HEAT ILLNESSES TO OCCUR.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS, STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM, STAY OUT OF THE SUN, AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. YOUNG CHILDREN AND PETS SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED IN VEHICLES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE. TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK, THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY! CALL 9 1 1.
CDC RECOMMENDS THAT IF YOU NEED TO GO TO A COOLING CENTER, WEAR A CLOTH FACE COVERING. WHILE YOU ARE THERE, WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP, OR USE HAND SANITIZER, OFTEN. FACE COVERS SHOULD NOT BE USED BY CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 2. THEY ALSO SHOULD NOT BE USED BY PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, OR WHO ARE UNCONSCIOUS, INJURED, OR CAN’T REMOVE THE MASK THEMSELVES.