Flash Flood Watch Issued for Arlington — Arlington, D.C. and points west are under a Flash Flood Watch today, starting at 10 a.m., as the remnants of Hurricane Florence drop heavy rain on the area. [Twitter]

New Food Distribution Site in Ballston — “The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) has joined with the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) to open a new food-distribution site at The Springs, an apartment complex in the Ballston area. The site will distribute food on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m., and will serve eligible residents from the apartment as well as neighboring APAH communities.” [InsideNova]

Rosslyn Fire Station Leveled — Rosslyn’s Fire Station 10 has been demolished as construction proceeds on a new fire station on the ground floor of a new development. [Twitter]

‘Coffee With a Cop’ Planned — “Wednesday, October 3 is National Coffee with a Cop Day and the Arlington County Police Department is hosting two events with our Community Outreach Teams to celebrate. Community members are invited to join police at this informal event to ask questions, voice concerns, get to know their neighbors, interact with the Community Outreach Teams and meet officers from other sections of the department.” [Arlington County]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Arlington County is under a Flood Warning until 12:45 a.m. Saturday.

Another round of heavy rain moving into the area could cause flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

More from NWS:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A * FLOOD WARNING FOR… SOUTHEASTERN ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… EAST CENTRAL FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… * UNTIL 1245 AM EDT. * AT 847 PM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN WHICH WILL CAUSE FLOODING. UP TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN HAVE ALREADY FALLEN AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE. * SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, ANNANDALE, HUNTINGTON, CRYSTAL CITY, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, LINCOLNIA, LAKE BARCROFT, BALLSTON, BARCROFT, JEFFERSON MANOR AND BAILEYS CROSSROADS.

820pm: More heavy rain is developing over the western DC suburbs, moving east. Prepare for another round of heavy rain and possible renewed flooding inside the Capital Beltway over the next hour.

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) September 8, 2018

8:50p: Flood warning now around Alexandria and Arlington. Meanwhile band of heavy rain and lightning in west and SW burbs moving east into Beltway and I-95. pic.twitter.com/QjEhuNUmCr

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) September 8, 2018

Arlington County is currently under a Flash Flood Watch.

Though the sun is out now, forecasters warn that slow-moving thunderstorms will develop later today and could dump heavy rain on Arlington and other parts of the region.

More from the National Weather Service:

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A * FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS, IN MARYLAND, ANNE ARUNDEL, CARROLL, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY, FREDERICK MD, NORTHERN BALTIMORE, NORTHWEST HARFORD, NORTHWEST HOWARD, NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY, PRINCE GEORGES, SOUTHEAST HARFORD, AND SOUTHERN BALTIMORE. IN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA AND FAIRFAX. * THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. * SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. * HIGH RAINFALL RATES MAY LEAD TO RAPID RISES OF WATER IN LOW- LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS AS WELL AS SOME SMALL STREAMS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED. &&

A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for portions of the region until midnight tonight. This includes the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas. pic.twitter.com/xvRwqNUIua

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) August 31, 2018

A sudden spate of thunderstorms has prompted a flood warning for Arlington County.

The National Weather Service is warning of possible flooding through 7:15 p.m.

Several areas of showers, and eventually some thunderstorms, will be crossing the area today. The greatest risk for strong to severe storms with locally damaging winds will cross from west to east late this afternoon and evening. pic.twitter.com/9MtIce4rIy

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) August 21, 2018

Full details from the NWS:

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Flood Warning for…
The western District of Columbia…
The City of Fairfax in northern Virginia…
Arlington County in northern Virginia…
The City of Falls Church in northern Virginia…
Fairfax County in northern Virginia…
The City of Manassas Park in northern Virginia…
Central Prince William County in northern Virginia…
The northwestern City of Alexandria in northern Virginia…

* Until 715 PM EDT.

* At 116 PM EDT, trained weather spotters reported heavy rain in
Centreville, Virginia due to thunderstorms that will cause
flooding. Up to two inches of rain have already fallen.

* Some locations that may experience flooding include…
Arlington, Alexandria, Centreville, Reston, Annandale, Springfield,
Herndon, Fairfax, Vienna, Falls Church, Mantua, Pimmit Hills,
Mclean, Howard University, American Legion Bridge, Reagan National
Airport, Rosslyn, Crystal City, Potomac and Burke.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as
well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.

Updated at 5 p.m. — Several instances of flooded roadways and five downed trees have been reported in various parts of Arlington after a thunderstorm packing heavy rain, hail and strong, gusty winds rolled through the county at the start of the evening rush hour. Thus far no significant power outages have been reported.

Storm update: Roadway flooding reported on the 5500 block of Columbia Pike and the intersection of Lee Highway and Kirkwood. Tree reported down along Military Road.

— Arlington Now (@ARLnowDOTcom) August 13, 2018

Just your daily flooding at the Ballston Mall garage. @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/WyYP4ad4jS

— Mark Reed (@markr867) August 13, 2018

Update at 4:15 p.m. — The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Arlington through 5 p.m. More from NWS:

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
411 PM EDT MON AUG 13 2018

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… SOUTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT.

* AT 410 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER LAKE RIDGE, OR NEAR WOODBRIDGE, MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE…TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN  INDEPENDENT HILL IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY.

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, ANNANDALE, SPRINGFIELD, FORT WASHINGTON, FORT HUNT, GROVETON, HUNTINGTON, FORT BELVOIR, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, CRYSTAL CITY, BURKE, LINCOLNIA, LORTON, FRANCONIA, HYBLA VALLEY, NEWINGTON, LAKE BARCROFT, I395 AND I495 INTERCHANGE AND BALLSTON.

Severe storms heading into the Beltway just in time for rush hour. pic.twitter.com/OhrbAmzDum

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) August 13, 2018

Earlier: Weather watchers say some heavy rain this afternoon could produce dangerous flooding in Arlington.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the county and several other jurisdictions around the D.C. region through 10 p.m. today.

The NWS is warning that “slow-moving showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening will be capable of producing intense rainfall rates that could lead to flash flooding.”

Flash Flood Watch has been expanded southward to include metro Washington DC and additional portions of northwestern Virginia and eastern West Virginia. Aside from the flood threat, storms this afternoon and evening could produce localized damage due to gusty winds. Keep alert! pic.twitter.com/MTvM8W0YMp

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) August 13, 2018

Full details from the NWS below:

District of Columbia-Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Shenandoah-
Warren-Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Hardy-
Western Grant-Eastern Grant-
Including the cities of Washington, Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill,
Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Camp Springs,
Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, South Gate, Severna Park, Arnold,
Odenton, Strasburg, Woodstock, Mount Jackson, New Market,
Front Royal, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly,
McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria, Moorefield, Bayard,
Mount Storm, and Petersburg
105 PM EDT Mon Aug 13 2018

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has expanded
the

* Flash Flood Watch to include portions of central Maryland, The
District of Columbia, Virginia, and eastern West Virginia,
including the following areas, in central Maryland, Anne
Arundel and Prince Georges. The District of Columbia. In
Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Fairfax,
Shenandoah, and Warren. In eastern West Virginia, Eastern
Grant, Hardy, and Western Grant.

* Until 10 PM EDT this evening

* Slow moving showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening will be capable of producing intense rainfall rates
that could lead to flash flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Flash Flood Watch Today — Arlington and much of the region is again under a Flash Flood Watch today and through early Saturday. Heavy rains expected during the day and evening may cause flash flooding, forecasters say. [Twitter, Weather.gov]

Smoke the Dog Visits Nats Park — Smoke, the Arlington shelter dog with terminal cancer who’s become an internet star for his quest to check off his “bucket list,” had quite a Thursday. The hound got to visit home plate at Nationals Park yesterday, and also got to go home to a new adoptive dog mom. [WJLA]

Arlington Unemployment Rate Still Lowest in Va. — “Despite a second month in a row of upticks, Arlington’s unemployment rate in June remained the envy of Virginia’s 132 other cities and counties. With 150,837 county residents in the civilian workforce and 3,393 looking for jobs, Arlington’s non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 2.2 percent in June was lowest in the commonwealth.” [InsideNova]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

There may be yet more rain in the forecast, fresh on the heels of last month’s persistent storms, but don’t expect to see the sort of flooding that trapped dozens of people in their cars on the GW Parkway two weeks back.

That’s the word from National Park Service officials, who believe the waves of water covering the parkway back on July 17 were more a fluke than anything else.

The flooding, which impacted a stretch of the road as it winds past Reagan National Airport, was severe enough to strand about 25 cars on the parkway until firefighters could get them to safety. But the NPS doesn’t see much it can do to prevent that sort of flooding from happening again, simply because parkway officials believe it was largely a result of the extraordinarily rapid rate of rainfall.

#Breaking: 20 plus vehicles with water up to their doors on GW Pkwy at Reagan Airport. Avoid GW PKWY!!! pic.twitter.com/61BaHuyroQ

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) July 17, 2018

Jonathan Shafer, a NPS spokesman, noted that meteorologists recorded more than 2.6 inches of rain per hour falling at the airport that day.

“Maintenance staff from [the parkway] think the drainage system there was overwhelmed by the large amount of runoff,” Shafer told ARLnow via email.

Shafer added that parkway “[does not] believe this area has flooded due to rain in recent memory,” though water main breaks have occasionally caused some problems north of the airport.

Warren Stewart, a 22-year resident of Northern Virginia, agrees that he’s never seen the parkway look as it did two weeks ago. He was driving toward D.C. to pick his son up from school on July 17 when he saw what looked like “a creek coming down the road.”

“From my truck back, it was not flooded and the cars in front of me were,” Stewart said. “They were bailing water out of their cars with buckets… Water rose up as high as their tail lights, for some of them.”

The parkway hasn’t experienced anything like the mid-July flooding since then, even as rain has continued to pound the region. That’s why Shafer thinks the best solution to avoiding any similar scary situations on the parkway is for drivers to “exercise caution” getting on the road when storms pick up.

“Conditions can change fast, and it’s hard to predict when and how the weather might affect them,” he wrote.

Shafer says the park service is hard at work studying drainage and stormwater management improvements on other sections of the parkway, though construction is likely years away.

Photo via @ArlingtonVaFD

Arlington and much of the region is under a Flash Flood Watch today.

Forecasters are warning of the possibility of “multiple rounds of torrential rainfall” that could result in flash flooding given the already-saturated ground.

More from the National Weather Service:

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS EXPANDED THE * FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO INCLUDE PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA… MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR TARGETED AREAS THROUGH TONIGHT. GIVEN SATURATED SOIL FROM RECENT RAINFALL, REPETITIVE HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING. * URBAN AREAS, LOCATIONS ALONG SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS, AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO FLASH FLOODING. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH FRIDAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED. &&

Flash #Flood Watch through tonight for areas shaded in dark green (eastern WV, much of MD west of bay, DC/Baltimore metros, I-81 corridor/Shenandoah Valley and central VA). Repeated heavy showers and thunderstorms may result in rapid rises of water. Be alert, avoid flooded areas. pic.twitter.com/iuBGIl9S3G

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) August 2, 2018

Prepare for more rain, and more flooding, the National Weather Service warns.

The NWS has issued a severe thunderstorm watch through 10 p.m. tonight, with a flash flood watch as well from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. due to the excessive amounts of rain the region’s seen recently.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening as a cold front approaches the area. Both severe weather and flash flooding will be possible in association with these storms. For additional details visit https://t.co/o2JIHfMyKQ pic.twitter.com/JRDudNNHFT

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) July 27, 2018

Full details from the NWS:

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM EDT THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING…

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of Maryland, The District of Columbia, and Virginia,
including the following areas, in Maryland, Anne Arundel,
Carroll, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast
Montgomery, Charles, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford,
Northwest Howard, Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges,
Southeast Harford, and Southern Baltimore. The District of
Columbia. In Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria,
Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, King George, Prince
William/Manassas/Manassas Park, and Stafford.

* From 3 PM EDT this afternoon through 11 PM EDT this evening.

* Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop late this
afternoon and evening, with heavy rainfall rates likely. Given
saturated soil from this week`s excessive rainfall, any
additional heavy rain or repetitive thunderstorms may result in
rapid rises of water in streams and low lying areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Photo via @NWS_BaltWash

Spanish restaurant SER (1110 N. Glebe Road) is closed today after storms led to a partial roof collapse and flooding inside the eatery last night (July 25).

SER aims to be back open this weekend, according to a Twitter statement from restaurant proprietor Javier Candon.

“Last night, our building had a structural failure which resulted in us having to close the restaurant unexpectedly due to flooding,” the statement reads, in part. “As repairs begin, I just want to thank everyone for their support and patience.”

@capitalweather An hour ago in Ballston at SER Restaurant on Glebe. It started raining inside and the roof started falling in. Luckily I don’t believe anyone was hurt. pic.twitter.com/m6mXcTL8L7

— Tracy Hardaway (@TracyMHardaway) July 25, 2018

Candon also noted in the statement that no guests were harmed in the incident.

All of Two Ballston Plaza, the building in which SER is located, is closed today because of a power outage, according to a notice on its door. Ballston CrossFit, another tenant, posted on its Facebook page that flooding caused the outage.

Flash Flood Watch Remains, Though Rain is Subsiding — Weather watchers warn that a risk of floods remains through this afternoon, but things are set to get steadily dryer as Thursday and Friday get closer. [NWS]

Are Tolls Worth It on Virginia’s HOT Lanes? — A new study shows it’s a bit of a mixed bag for commuters, though anyone hopping on I-66 instead of Route 29 or Route 50 is probably getting their money’s worth. Researchers don’t see those arterial roads as viable alternatives, given the time savings 66 still offers during rush hour. [WTOP]

Metro Remains Less-Than-Ideal for Blind Riders — Months after a blind woman fell off a platform due to problems with Metro’s new 7000-series trains, the transit service is still scrambling to improve conditions for the visually impaired. [Washington Post]

Nearby: A Tornado Touched Down Near Thomas Jefferson High School — Officials believe a twister made a roughly one-minute-long appearance near the school, around the border of Alexandria and Annandale. [Washington Post]

Flickr pool photo via wolfkann

Weekend Rain Intensifies, Prompts Flood Watch — As if this weekend’s downpours weren’t enough, there’s now a flash flood watch in effect for Arlington and much of the rest of the D.C. region through late tonight. That seems to be the theme for much of the upcoming week’s forecast. [Twitter, Washington Post]

Amazon HQ2 Contest Sparks New Levels of Regional Cooperation — That’s what economic development officials from Arlington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland say. The Metro funding deal, negotiated across three different governments, represents some of that cooperation, but will that spirit last if Amazon doesn’t pick the D.C. region? [Washington Business Journal]

Yorktown Alum Bound for South Africa — Drew Kiser will make the trip with some help from a Fulbright U.S. Student Program English Teaching Assistant award and the State Department. He’ll teach English at a high school “as part of a project to promote literacy among developing nations, as well as educating youth about LGBT identity.” [InsideNova]

Keep an eye on the roads — the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Arlington through 6:30 p.m. tonight (Tuesday).

The weather service estimates the D.C. region could see up to two inches of rain in total tonight, though storms are supposed to move out of the area quickly.

The flooding has already prompted some road closures, including on the G.W. Parkway, which county police say is closed in both directions:

#Update: Water Rescue team has removed all the stranded pedestrians from their vehicles. pic.twitter.com/uXveBS3bOe

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) July 17, 2018

@OhMyGOFF @amelia_draper @dougkammerer GW Parkway at DCA pic.twitter.com/iIEc1d0ASe

— David Earle (@dearle12) July 17, 2018

The intersection of Columbia Pike at S. Greenbrier Street is closed due to standing water. A floor warning has been issued for Arlington County until 6:30 p.m. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters. If you see standing water, turn around don't drown. pic.twitter.com/lJNj6kpPuL

— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) July 17, 2018

More from the NWS:

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Flood Warning for…
The central District of Columbia…

Arlington County in northern Virginia…
Southeastern Fairfax County in northern Virginia…
The City of Alexandria in northern Virginia…

* Until 630 PM EDT.

* At 329 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain which will cause flooding. Up to one inch of rain has
already fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of up to one inch are
possible.

* Some locations that may experience flooding include…

Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Springfield, Fort Washington,
Fort Hunt, Groveton, Falls Church, Huntington, Mantua, Fort
Belvoir, Nationals Park, Gallaudet University, Reagan National
Airport, Rosslyn, Crystal City, RFK Stadium, Burke, Lincolnia and
Lorton.

‘Coffee With a Cop’ Comes to Clarendon, Pentagon City — The Arlington County Police Department is hosting a pair of “Coffee with a Cop” events later this month, at a Starbucks in Pentagon City and Northside Social in Clarendon. In a press release, ACPD said it “is committed to developing and maintaining strong relationships with those we serve, a vital component to ensuring the public’s trust.” [Arlington County]

Potomac Roaring Over Great Falls — Those within earshot of the Potomac River are being treated to an especially loud roar this week as the rain-swollen river “churned and even exploded into the air at Great Falls.” It also flooded parts of Alexandria and the Georgetown riverfront. [Washington Post, Twitter, Twitter]

Artisphere Closing Anniversary — It has been three years since Artisphere closed its doors in Rosslyn. The former county-funded arts venue is now a co-working and events space.

Photo courtesy @jimcollierjr

(Updated at 6 p.m.) The relentless rain soaking Arlington is prompting some serious flooding in the Waverly Hills neighborhood, and now people living there are pressing the county for help.

Tom Reich, a longtime homeowner in the area, told ARLnow that many of his neighbors along the 4000 block of 18th Street N. experienced serious flooding starting two weeks ago, on May 22. He also sent along the above video, showing water reaching high enough to partially submerge some cars parked on 18th Street N. and carry away some recycling bins.

“Many houses had their garages, basements, and cars flooded, sustaining many thousands of dollars in damage,” Reich wrote in an email.

Reich added that similar floods have plagued the neighborhood several times over the years — in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2013 — and the Waverly Hills Civic Association convened a meeting on May 31 with county officials to address the problem. Reich says many residents urged the county to construct stormwater management improvements, but they didn’t get much in the way of good news on that front.

“The upshot was that the county told us our need is real and acute, but the money is not currently there in the capital budget to execute the projects,” Reich wrote. “Needless to say, the Waverly Hills residents are now in the beginning stage of a campaign to highlight the threat to our homes presented by the county’s failure to act on its own plan.”

Reich points out that a variety of projects designed to manage flooding in the Spout Run watershed, where the neighborhood is located, have gone unfunded in recent years.

The county’s Capital Improvement Plan passed ahead of fiscal year 2013 included funding for four different sewer projects in the area — but Reich says those were never completed and the next CIP, passed by the County Board two years later, includes no mention of them.

County Manager Mark Schwartz’s proposed CIP, which details construction projects running from fiscal year 2019 through 2028, also includes some funding for stormwater management in other parts of the county, but Reich and his neighbors are frustrated that the spending plan doesn’t call for more construction around Waverly Hills.

Staff with the county’s Department of Environmental Services completed preliminary work on the projects Reich referenced after the 2006 flooding, according to county spokeswoman Jennifer Smith. Yet she says that work “identified significant challenges and costs to upgrade the system, as the current system traverses more than a dozen private properties.”

DES spokeswoman Katie O’Brien adding that the county is “still pursuing” those projects, yet noted that “technical challenges and funding remain an issue.”

Schwartz has certainly warned of the county’s fiscal challenges as he’s unveiled this year’s construction plan, thanks to Arlington’s increasing obligations to fund the Metro system and shrinking commercial tax revenues.

However, Smith would caution that “while greater capacity in the storm sewer would alleviate flooding concerns, there is no system which can guarantee elimination of flood risk to flood-prone properties.”

Video via YouTube