Weather

UPDATED: Severe Storms Bring Wind, Torrential Rain to Arlington.

By ARLnow.com

Update at 7:45 p.m. — There have been reports of downed trees, branches and power lines in Arlington, but no major power outages have been reported by Dominion. Flights are Reagan National Airport are resuming.

No major flooding issues have been reported, though ARLnow.com’s office sprung a leak during the storm.

Update at 7:01 p.m. — The Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been extended until 7:30 p.m.

Update at 6:58 p.m. — A Flash Flood Warning has also been issued for Arlington.

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for…
The District of Columbia…
South central Montgomery County in central Maryland…
Arlington County in northern Virginia…
The City of Falls Church in northern Virginia…
Northeastern Fairfax County in northern Virginia…
The City of Alexandria in northern Virginia…

* Until 1000 PM EDT.

* At 654 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the area. Around an inch of rain has fallen, and
an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible over the next 1
to 2 hours leading to flash flooding in the metro area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

(Updated at 6:55 p.m.) The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Arlington as a powerful line of storms rolls through the county.

More from the National Weather Service:

…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA…SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY…NORTHWESTERN PRINCE GEORGES…SOUTHEASTERN LOUDOUN…FAIRFAX…EAST CENTRAL FAUQUIER…PRINCE WILLIAM…AND ARLINGTON COUNTIES…THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH…THE CITY OF MANASSAS PARK…THE CITY OF MANASSAS…THE CITY OF FAIRFAX AND THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA…

At 646 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Bethesda to Newington to 11 miles east of Bealeton, moving southeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD…70 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

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, Germantown, Centreville, Dale City, Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Reston, Annandale, Springfield, College Park, South Riding, Fort Washington, Herndon, Greenbelt, Fairfax, Langley Park, Fort Hunt and Vienna.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Prepare immediately for large hail and damaging winds. People outside should move to a shelter, inside a strong building and away from windows.

Reagan National Airport, meanwhile, has imposed a ground stop on flights due to the severe weather.

Photo (top) courtesy Milan