(Updated at 9:00 a.m.) Arlington and the rest of the D.C. region is under a heat advisory from noon to 8:00 p.m., as temperatures are expected to soar this afternoon.
Forecasters are predicting a high temperature of 96 degrees, with heat index values reaching into the 100s. Some forecasts even have the temperature hitting 100 today.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the D.C. region tonight.
A line of storms that caused severe damage in Chicago earlier today is quickly approaching the region from the west.
You’ll probably want to pack an umbrella this morning.
Numerous downpour-producing storms are expected to hit the Washington area this afternoon and evening. Forecasters are warning that the storms could cause flash flooding.
(Updated at 2:55 p.m.) Parts of Old Dominion Drive and Rock Spring Road remained closed this afternoon as crews continued to clean up from the “macroburst” storm that ravaged parts of North Arlington on Sunday.
The smell of freshly-cut wood and the sound of chainsaws and wood chippers was pervasive throughout Yorktown and the other hart-hit neighborhoods. Private disaster recovery trucks — along with crews from Dominion, Verizon and other utilities — roamed the streets, many of which are still covered with debris waiting to be hauled off.
Crews are still working to clean up toppled trees and tangled power lines left in the wake of the powerful storm that ripped through Arlington Sunday night.
The photo above depicts damage in the area of Glebe Road and Old Dominion Drive, in one of the county’s hardest-hit neighborhoods. As of 3:00 a.m., 1360 Dominion customers in North Arlington were still without power.
Arlington and much of the surrounding area is under a severe thunderstorm warning through 7:00 p.m.
Storms capable of torrential rain and damaging winds are quickly approaching Arlington and D.C. from the northwest.
As of 2:30 a.m., 1,734 Dominion customers were without power in Arlington. The outage was said to be centered in the Courthouse and Clarendon area, along Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards.
In addition to restaurants and commercial offices, the outage also hit county government buildings in Courthouse. Some of the county’s internal computer networks were said to have been knocked offline by the outage. Firefighters responded to the county jail after the emergency generator reportedly failed to start, leaving the facility in the dark.
The sweltering temperatures have prompted organizers of both the Ballston Farmers Market — held every Thursday in Welburn Square — and the Rosslyn Farmers Market — held Thursdays at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and N. Oak Street — to cancel.
Temperatures are expected to come close to the 100 degree mark today.
The mercury is expected to flirt with 100 degrees today as a heat wave envelops the region. Tomorrow will bring more of the same heat and humidity — but with a better chance of hitting 100.
If you’ve lived through just one summer in the D.C. area, this is nothing new. In fact, there’s an excellent chance that it will get even hotter at some point this summer.
Arlington and the rest of the region is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch through 10:00 tonight.
Forecasters say today’s scorching temperatures — we’re also under a Heat Advisory through 8:00 p.m. — will help fuel potentially severe storms late this afternoon or early this evening. The scattered storms will accompany a cold front that is heading toward the region from the west.
Update at 9:05 p.m. — The number of Dominion customers without power in Arlington is now down to 350.
Dominion is reporting that just over 2,500 customers are without power in Arlington after a line of storms raced through the area just after dinner time.
The area is once again under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Forecasters say storms with large hail and damaging winds are possible.
From the National Weather Service:
