Nearly 20,000 homes and businesses are without power in Arlington and a Flash Flood Warning has been issued for parts of the area in the wake of a late night severe storm.
Flooding has been reported amid the severe storm that is now exiting to the east. Additional rain is coming behind the main storm.
The storm brought wind gusts of 60-70 mph, and perhaps higher, to parts of Arlington. A 64 mph gust was reported at Reagan National Airport.
As of 1 a.m., Dominion was reporting 19,738 customers without power in Arlington alone. The outages include large swatches of the county, from the northernmost to the southernmost portions of Arlington. Affected neighborhoods include Ballston, Pentagon City, Fairlington, Ashton Heights and Country Club Hills, among others.
Power might not be restored in some areas until after sunrise, according to Dominion’s website.
Numerous instances of downed trees, downed wires and in some cases transformer fires have been reported in various parts of Arlington.
At 1530 12th Street N. in the Fort Myer Heights neighborhood, a small fire was reported on the roof of an apartment building following a lightning strike. On the 900 block of W. Broad Street in Falls Church, a water rescue was reported after a person got stuck, possibly in a vehicle, amid high standing water.
Water rescues have also been reported in parts of the City of Alexandria and along the GW Parkway, according to scanner traffic.
The winds were so strong at the outset of the storm that multiple people described it as “hurricane” like.
Moments before my power (briefly) went out, I was having a blast (pun intended) filming the Arlington, VA "hurricane" tonight from my way-up-high balcony.
CC: @ARLnowDOTcom @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/oWrmHyO7N1
— Tripp Whitbeck (@trippwhitbeck) September 4, 2026
We are having a moment here in Arlington and much of close-in Northern Virginia, as well as DC. Very heavy rain, high winds, and lots of lightning. Many drivers pulled over on I-395. Trees down. Fire departments handling rescue assignments due to flooding, and car crashes. From… pic.twitter.com/fekYolLSUI
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) September 4, 2026
More on the flood danger from the National Weather Service:
Flash Flood Warning issued September 4 at 12:04AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
FLASH FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12:04 A.M. TO 3 A.M. EDT FRIDAY.
FFWLWX
The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for… The Southwestern District of Columbia… Arlington County in northern Virginia… East Central Fairfax County in northern Virginia… The City of Alexandria in northern Virginia… The City of Falls Church in northern Virginia…
* Until 300 AM EDT.
* At 1204 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 30 minutes. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE…Radar and automated gauges.
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, Annandale, Springfield, Vienna, Groveton, Falls Church, Huntington, Mantua, Pimmit Hills, Crystal City, Reagan National Airport, Burke, Lincolnia, Tysons Corner, Franconia, Merrifield, Lake Barcroft, I395 and I495 Interchange and Ballston.
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.
Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely.
Flash Flood Warning including Arlington VA, Alexandria VA and Reagan National Airport VA until 3:00 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/XCXRgGxBr7
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) September 4, 2026
