Weather

UPDATED: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Arlington

Update at 10:50 p.m. — The earlier Flash Flood Watch has been upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning. Flooding near streams and in low-lying areas is imminent. The warning is in effect until 1:45 a.m.

From the National Weather Service:

* AT 1049 PM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN. FLASH FLOODING IS ONGOING OR EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.

HAZARD…LIFE THREATENING FLASH FLOODING. THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING.

SOURCE…DOPPLER RADAR.

IMPACT…LIFE THREATENING FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS AND STREAMS, URBAN AREAS, HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND UNDERPASSES.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… ALEXANDRIA… CENTREVILLE… ROCKVILLE… BETHESDA… RESTON… BOWIE… ANNANDALE… CLINTON… SPRINGFIELD… COLLEGE PARK… SOUTH RIDING… FORT WASHINGTON… HERNDON… GREENBELT… FAIRFAX… LANGLEY PARK… BELTSVILLE… FORT HUNT… VIENNA…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

Update at 10:40 p.m. — The county is also under a Flash Flood Watch due to heavy downpours.

1025 PM EDT MON JUN 14 2021

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT TUESDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF DC…MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS: IN DC, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN MARYLAND, ANNE ARUNDEL, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY, CHARLES AND PRINCE GEORGES. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA AND FAIRFAX.

* UNTIL 2 AM EDT TUESDAY

* THUNDERSTORMS WITH INTENSE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND 1-2 INCHES IN LOCALIZED AREAS WITHIN AN HOUR.

* HEAVY RAIN IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME WILL CAUSE THE POTENTIAL FOR STREAMS AND CREEKS TO QUICKLY RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS.

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.

Update at 10:35 p.m. — The remainder of Arlington is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

Update at 10:15 p.m. — A portion of Arlington is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning as a line of storms approach.

From the National Weather Service:

1011 PM EDT MON JUN 14 2021

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING…

* UNTIL 1100 PM EDT.

* AT 1011 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR SOUTH RIDING, MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

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, CENTREVILLE, ANNANDALE, SPRINGFIELD, SOUTH RIDING, FAIRFAX, VIENNA, GROVETON, FALLS CHURCH, HUNTINGTON, MANTUA, FORT BELVOIR, BURKE, OAKTON, CHANTILLY, LINCOLNIA, FRANCONIA, MERRIFIELD AND NEWINGTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

Earlier: Arlington and the D.C. area is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 2 a.m.

Strong storms are expected across the region tonight, potentially packing winds gusts that can down trees and power lines.

More from the National Weather Service:

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA UNTIL 2 AM. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE PRIMARY THREATS, AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS POSSIBLE.

AN ISOLATED INSTANCE OF FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH THUNDERSTORMS.

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman