Update at 5:25 p.m. — It’s “too early to tell” whether a disaster declaration will be made due to the extensive damage from today’s flooding, an Arlington County spokeswoman tells ARLnow.com.
Per Arlington’s Office of Emergency Management:
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flood
It’s shaping up to be a wet Sunday night.
Arlington County and surrounding areas are under a Flash Flood Watch starting at 6 p.m. Slow-moving rainstorms are expected to drop copious amounts of precipitation on much of the region, particularly to the west of D.C.
The video (below) was jarring: cars driving through muddy flood waters that nearly reached the tops of tires.
Even more jarring: this was happening along busy Columbia Pike, a route not noted for being flood-prone, during the evening rush hour.
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Columbia Pike Flooding — Columbia Pike flooded near S. Greenbrier Street during last night’s storms. Drivers could be seen driving through standing water as high as the tops of car tires. [Twitter]
Another Flash Flood Watch — Arlington is again under a Flash Flood Watch from 2-11 p.m. today, as slow-moving storms may produce torrential, flooding rainfalls. [Weather.gov, Twitter]
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Update at 4:25 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Arlington through 11 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of DE, DC, MD, NJ, PA, VA until 11 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/VN2Fyzlgel
Arlington County and much of the D.C. region is now under a Flash Flood Watch.
The watch is in effect until 10 a.m. Sunday. Forecasters say multiple rounds of heavy rain and storms could produce flash flooding.
(Updated at 1:25 p.m.) Arlington and the D.C. region is now under a Tornado Watch.
The watch is in effect until midnight tonight. Forecasters say the storms approaching the area may spawn isolated tornadoes.
Flash Flood Watch Issued — Arlington and the region is under a Flash Flood Watch starting at noon today. Heavy rain and storms, some of which may be severe, are expected this afternoon and evening. [Twitter, Twitter]
Anytime Fitness Opening Today — Anytime Fitness, a new 24/7 gym, is set to open today in Rosslyn. “New member specials will be available through the end of April and free community workouts will be held every Saturday in May,” said a PR rep.
The groundwater level in Arlington is rising, officials say, which could cause more flooded homes and mosquito-filled backyards.
Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services says current groundwater levels are an average of 5 feet higher than they were during the past two years. Officials say one reason is last year’s 60-inch rainfall, which broke the 1889 record for the region’s rainiest year ever recorded.
Arlington County and surrounding areas are under both a Flood Watch and a Wind Advisory Thursday, as a front brings heavy rain and strong winds to the region.
About 1-2 inches of rain is expected to fall, potentially causing flooding in low-lying areas and along streams and creeks.
Flood Watch in Effect — Expect periods of rain today. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for much of the region through late tonight. “Excessive runoff from already saturated soils will cause the potential for streams and creeks to rise out of their banks as well as flooding in low lying urban areas,” forecasters say. [Weather.gov, Twitter]
Arlington Doesn’t Want to Pick Fight Over J-D Hwy — “The Arlington County government’s efforts to rename its portion of Jefferson Davis Highway could face familiar legislative roadblocks in 2019. But County Board members say they have no interest in forcing a confrontation with the General Assembly on the matter.” [InsideNova]
The Arlington County Fire Department is urging residents to “turn around, don’t drown” when encountering a flooded roadway.
A Flood Warning is in effect for Arlington County until 1:30 a.m. as rain continues to fall. More from the National Weather Service: