Arlington and Falls Church are under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Flash Flood Warning as mid-afternoon Tuesday.
The Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect until 3:30 p.m. A strong storm packing 60 mph wind gusts and lots of lightning is approaching the area from the west.
The Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 6 p.m. The approaching storm will have torrential rainfall that’s likely to cause flash flooding, forecasters say.
More from the National Weather Service:
238 PM EDT Tue Jul 1 2025
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning […]
* Until 330 PM EDT.
* At 238 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Centreville, moving northeast at 25 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, Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Reston, Annandale, Springfield, South Riding, Herndon, Fairfax, Vienna, Falls Church, Mantua, Pimmit Hills, Mclean, American Legion Bridge, Fort Totten, and Rosslyn.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
Damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning are occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature’s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
254 PM EDT Tue Jul 1 2025
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning […]
* Until 600 PM EDT.
* At 254 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1.5 to 2.5 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2.5 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE…Radar.
IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include… Arlington… Alexandria… Centreville… Rockville… Bethesda… Gaithersburg… Reston… Annandale… Olney… Springfield… Herndon… Fairfax… Langley Park… Vienna… Falls Church… Mantua… Pimmit Hills… American Legion Bridge… Mclean… Aspen Hill…
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Earlier: After a bit of a dud Flood Watch yesterday, nature’s fireworks are looking more likely today (Tuesday).
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and a Flood Watch for Arlington and much of the D.C. area. The watches are in effect until 9 and 11 p.m., respectively.
Forecasters say torrential rainfall, frequent lightning, sizable hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph are possible with storms this afternoon and evening.
More from NWS:
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of DE, DC, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV until 9 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/x4FiEiin29
— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) July 1, 2025
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. […]
* WHEN…From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through this evening.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Numerous thunderstorms are expected to form and move across the Watch area this afternoon and evening. While thunderstorms will move along at a faster speed than the past couple of days, they will be capable of producing very heavy instantaneous rainfall rates, and may exhibit some training motion at times. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms may be possible at any single location. In total, a widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain is expected, with embedded higher totals of 3 to 5 inches. Flash flooding may occur as a result.
– Please visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness informationPRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
Meteorologist Jackie Layer of DC News Now breaks down the stormy forecast, specifically for ARLnow readers, in the video below.
Catch Jackie’s forecasts weekdays on DC News Now/WDVM and DCW50.
