Update at 7:35 p.m. — Arlington is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
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Weather
Storms packing torrential rain are expected to roll though Arlington later this afternoon and tonight.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch through 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, warning that downpours may lead to flash flooding.
The National Weather Service says much of the eastern United States is at risk for damaging storms today. In the D.C. area, the risk is a bit lower than points south and west.
“There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening,” NWS said in a hazardous weather outlook. “Damaging wind gusts will be the primary concern.”
There are actually two hurricane tax holidays this year. The first tax holiday is May 25-31, which has been declared Hurricane and Flooding Preparedness Week by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The second is Aug. 7-9.
After 2015, there will only be one holiday in August. The Virginia General Assembly voted to combine three hurricane preparedness tax holidays into one three-day period. However, the bill goes into effect on July 1, 2015, which means the planned tax holiday from May 25-31 was unaffected.
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Arlington and much of the immediate D.C. metro area.
A line of thunderstorms is rumbling across the region from the west, bringing the potential for torrential rainfall and dangerous lightning and wind gusts early Saturday evening.
Arlington County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning through 8:30 p.m.
From the National Weather Service:
Forecasters say severe storms are likely late this afternoon and this evening and that an isolated tornado is possible.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to reach the around the evening rush hour.
Arlington County and much of the surrounding region is under a Flood Watch tonight through Monday morning.
Forecasters say rain will start falling this evening and continue throughout the night, raising the possibility of flooding in flood-prone areas.
Arlington County and the D.C. region is under a wind advisory Tuesday night.
The National Weather Service says wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible tonight. From NWS:
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Other county facilities also have delayed openings. Libraries, except for the Plaza library, are hoping open at 1:00 p.m., according to Arlington’s closing and delays page.
The Arlington Mill Community Center will open at 1:00 p.m., while other community centers will open at noon or later, as scheduled, according to the county.
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Today, at 4:30 p.m., at Penrose Square — the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Barton Street — neighbors are being invited to participate in a snowball fight in what could be five or more inches of snow.
Pike resident Chris Slatt put out the call for the fight at just about noon on Twitter as a spur-of-the-moment idea. Over the phone, he told ARLnow.com that it seemed like a good opportunity for the shenanigans, considering schools, the government and many private offices are closed.
Most roads in Arlington are snow-covered as of noon today, as flakes continue to fall.
So far, 2-3 inches of snow accumulation have been reported.