(Updated at 5:25 p.m.) A Tornado Warning was issued for part of Arlington and the entire county is under Flash Flood and Severe Thunderstorm warnings.
The warnings were all initially issued between about 4:15-4:25 p.m., with forecasters saying there was imminent danger of a tornado in parts of South Arlington and flash flooding throughout the county.
A Flood Watch has been issued for Arlington, as heavy rain and strong storms are possible starting late this afternoon.
The Flood Watch will take effect at 5 p.m. and run through early Tuesday morning. An “anomalous” amount of moisture in the atmosphere may lead to deluges that could cause flooding, forecasters say.
Update at 6:20 p.m. — It appears that Arlington has been spared significant damage, at least from the first wave of storms. While rain and lightning are continuing, few power outages have been reported here so far. Fairfax County saw some bigger impacts, however, with Dominion reporting nearly 15,000 customers without power there. Additional storms are possible later tonight and a Tornado Watch remains in effect until 9 p.m.
Earlier: The storms that you’ve been hearing about all day are almost here.
(Updated at 3 p.m.) A widespread outbreak of severe weather is expected this evening, prompting a Tornado Watch for Arlington and much of the region.
Forecasters say the threats include “damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes.”
Get ready for some wild weather over the next day and a half.
First up are some storms tonight (Sunday) that are likely to be packing torrential rainfall. The heavy rain could cause flash flooding, prompting a Flood Watch to be issued this afternoon, taking effect at 8 p.m.
(Update at 4:40 p.m.) All of Arlington is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
More such warnings are likely as a line of strong storms approach from the west. Forecasters say the storms are packing very high winds, likely to cause damage and power outages.
A strong storm is approaching Arlington from the west, prompting a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
Fueled by today’s heat and humidity, the storms are packing potentially damaging winds, torrential rain and lightning. The current warning covers most of Arlington County, except the northernmost portion, through 7:30 p.m.
Thursday’s heat will help to fuel strong storms tonight, forecasters say.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was just issued for Arlington, the District, and other surrounding areas. It’s in effect until 11 p.m.
What had been an Excessive Heat Watch for Friday is now a warning.
The National Weather Service just issued the Excessive Heat Warning, cautioning against “dangerously hot conditions with heat index values around 110” tomorrow.
(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) Get ready for three days of sweltering weather.
Ahead of high temperatures in the upper 90s — perhaps rising into the triple digits — paired with high humidity, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Thursday and a watch for Friday.
(Updated at 12:50 p.m.) Arlington, D.C. and other parts of the region are now under both a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and a Flood Watch
The D.C. area is on the southern end of the Severe Thunderstorm Watch area, which runs up the East Coast and includes Philadelphia, New York City, and much of Connecticut. That watch is in effect until 8 p.m.
The air quality in Arlington County has crossed into “Code Red” levels.
The county’s Air Quality Index (AQI), according to the federal government’s AirNow.gov website, was 151 as of 3 p.m., just past the 150 threshold for Code Red. That comes as a new round of Canadian wildfire smoke wafts into the area.
