UPDATED: Power restored to most but GW Parkway to remain closed for several days

(Updated at 4:05 p.m.) The herculean effort to clean up from Saturday’s storms and restore power to tens of thousands is continuing Monday morning.

The GW Parkway remains closed to most traffic between Spout Run Parkway and the Beltway — and is expected to remain closed until later this week, as crews work to clear a large number of downed trees and branches.

The southbound lanes of Spout Run Parkway, where at least one car was damaged by a fallen tree Saturday, also remain closed.

From a press release issued Monday afternoon:

The George Washington Memorial Parkway is currently experiencing closures due to the aftermath of Saturday’s storm. Crews are diligently working to clear fallen trees from the roadway, and these closures are expected to last for the next few days.

To enhance and expedite the restoration process, George Washington Memorial Parkway has deployed a total of five crews, including its own team, assistance from the National Capital Parks-East (NACE), and three additional emergency contracting crews.

The North Parkway, from Spout Run Parkway to I-495, remains closed, except for the northbound lanes from Route 123 to I-495. Additionally, the southbound lanes of the Spout Run Parkway are also closed.

These closures are necessary to ensure the removal of hazardous trees, including those that have fallen across the roadway and broken limbs that pose a risk to travel lanes. The recovery work is estimated to be completed within three to four days.

Round-the-clock power restoration work whittled down the peak of more than 34,000 without electricity in Arlington — half that of the 2012 derecho — to 3,154 as of 11:15 a.m. Monday, according to Dominion’s website.

The remaining small outages are scattered throughout the county, though most are concentrated in north-central Arlington — between Route 50 and Langston Blvd — including the Orange Line corridor, which was particularly hard hit.

Throughout Northern Virginia, 4,732 Dominion customers remained in the dark this morning, according to the power company. Crews have been working long shifts and overnight to restore power, with much of that effort happening in Arlington.

As of 4 p.m., the outages were down to 2,029 in Arlington and 2,338 throughout Northern Virginia.

So what’s @DominionEnergy doing to get the power back on?

Steve explains much better than me… pic.twitter.com/jDrJfiwOur

— Peggy Fox (@PeggyDomEnergy) July 30, 2023

More storm stories are emerging as the cleanup continues.

In Courthouse, a heavy metal table was blown off a condo patio during the storm’s intense winds and is now stuck high in a tree, above a sidewalk.

“The tree is right across the street from the entrance of the Palatine apartment building,” a tipster told ARLnow on Sunday. By Monday morning, however, the table had been removed by a tree maintenance crew, the tipster said.

Trees came down throughout Arlington, taking down utility lines, blocking roads, and in at least eight known cases falling onto houses. One unlucky family was on their way to Walt Disney World in Orlando when a huge tree smashed into their stately brick house near Lacey Woods Park, we’re told.

For those on the go, it’s not just drivers who have to deal with fallen trees and other debris. A trail cleanup is planned for 5:30 p.m. today on the Mount Vernon Trail near Rosslyn, which “got hit particularly hard,” according to a social media post.

The MVT got hit hard yesterday particularly near @rosslynva. Join us for a post storm cleanup at the southern end of Trollheim Bridge/Bridge 31. We will be removing branches and debris.

Please register so we can plan the number of tools to bring: https://t.co/5b4KDBY28E pic.twitter.com/xHR9By4fuw

— Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail (@MtVernonFriends) July 30, 2023

Additionally, numerous trees are reported to be down on the Custis Trail and at least one park is closed due to storm damage.

“Rocky Run Park is closed for maintenance due to damages caused by the July 29 storms,” said Arlington’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation. “Please do not go onto the park grounds.”

Arlington National Cemetery, meanwhile, is also closed today except for funerals amid widespread tree damage at the nation’s most hallowed ground.

⚠️UPDATE: ANC closed to visitors and pass holders on Monday, July 31 ⚠️

Funerals will still be conducted as scheduled and open to attendees.

Our crew needs a little more time to return ANC to its proper condition before we welcome visitors. We apologize for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/3uPTMDjLI5

— Arlington National Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) July 30, 2023

More storm damage photos from social media, below.

Following the July 29 storms, there are many downed trees on the County’s trails (like these images from the Custis Trail). We appreciate your patience as crews work to survey and address these areas. Please use caution when using the trails as cleanup will take some time. pic.twitter.com/s8WXxxYIPU

— ARL VA Parks & Rec (@arlparksrec) July 30, 2023

Clarendon pic.twitter.com/VtlraEpAn6

— Elizabeth Hartig Schneider (@Beth867_539) July 30, 2023

Lots of damage in Clarendon @ARLnowDOTcom @washingtonpost @PoPville #VAStormdamage pic.twitter.com/chGPKu4buj

— Claudia Bermudez Buttine (@LoBer81) July 30, 2023

We have some firewood here in Lyon Par if anyone has a chainsaw! @ARLnowDOTcom pic.twitter.com/nnjbrFrfxO

— Kymberly Escobar (@kymesco) July 30, 2023

Blocked the sidewalk! This is Innovation Elementary school grounds. @ARLnowDOTcom @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/G1u8PjcLKz

— HennaThis (@HennaThis) July 30, 2023