Four out of ten D.C. area residents — nearly 2.5 million people — are expected to travel 50 miles or more during the 13-day holiday travel period around Christmas and New Year’s, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.
That’s up 3.3 percent from 2013.
rain
An approaching cold front will bring the potential for flooding and damaging winds, according to forecasters. Some higher-elevation areas to our west are under a wind advisory starting at 6:00 tonight.
This afternoon, the National Weather Service issued the following advisory for the D.C. area.
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Forecasters say heavy, drenching rain is moving up from the south in the form of a nor’easter. The storm may produce localized flooding in low-lying areas through early Thursday.
From the National Weather Service:
Arlington and the surrounding area is now under a Flash Flood Warning.
The Flash Flood Warning means that sudden, localized flooding is imminent due to the heavy rains overnight. If you encounter a flooded roadway while driving, you’re strongly encouraged to “turn around, don’t drown.”
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Arlington and the surrounding D.C. region.
Forecasters say 2-3 inches of rain is expected to fall from Thursday afternoon into Friday. Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms may cause flash flooding, especially along small local rivers and streams.
Standing water on roadways has created some dangerous driving conditions in Arlington, and swollen local waterways like Four Mile Run are starting to resemble “class three rapids,” but otherwise few serious problems have been reported around the county so far.
It’s a different story elsewhere in the region. In Montgomery County, cars and their drivers are getting trapped in high standing water.
Arlington and the rest of the D.C. area is now under a Flood Warning.
The National Weather Service says urban areas and streams are in danger of flooding as heavy rain continues to fall. Already parts of Old Town Alexandria have flooded and some streams in Arlington are overflowing their banks.
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A flash flood watch has been issued for Arlington County and the surrounding D.C. metro area.
Forecasters expect 3-5 inches of rain to fall between now and Thursday as a storm system soaks the region for much of the week. The deluge may cause local creeks, streams and low-lying areas to flood. From the National Weather Service:
Arlington and the surrounding D.C. region is under a Flood Watch through midnight tonight.
Forecasters say 3-6 inches of rain has fallen since Wednesday and another 1-3 inches is expected tonight, raising the possibility of flooding. From the National Weather Service:
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AAA Mid-Atlantic is reminding motorists to drive carefully in wet weather.
The association sent out the following press release this afternoon.
Arlington is under a Flash Flood Warning until 3:15 a.m.
Slow-moving storms moving into the area have the potential for heavy, persistent rainfall, which could flood streams and low-lying areas.
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Update at 8:55 a.m. — There is a ground stop for flights arriving at Reagan National Airport due to the weather. Check with your airline for the status on any outgoing flights.
The National Weather Service has put Arlington and the rest of the metro area under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 11:00 a.m. That’s in addition to the Flash Flood watch that went into effect at midnight and will last until 8:00 p.m.