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(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) The conditions outside still are treacherous for travel, so staying indoors for a while is the best idea. But if you’re already suffering from cabin fever and have the ability to easily and safely walk somewhere for a bite or a drink, there are options. Some places are even running winter storm specials.
The remnants of Hurricane Patricia are en route to the D.C. area. We should expect a stormy Wednesday, with 1-1.5 inches of rain and perhaps even some severe storms, says the Capital Weather Gang.
The fact that the rain is coming as leaves are falling off trees could lead to flooding and ponding issues around homes. DES tweeted the following advice this morning:
Arlington County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning through 2:45 p.m.
From the National Weather Service:
Parts of Arlington were inundated by heavy rain and frequent lightning and thunder this afternoon. There were scattered reports of power outages along Columbia Pike and people trapped in stuck elevators in Virginia Square and other parts of the county.
A wind gust of 58 miles per hour was reported in the Cherrydale neighborhood of Arlington during the storm, according to the National Weather Service. Flooding was reported in the westbound lanes of Washington Blvd, prompting police to close a ramp from Route 50.
Arlington and much of the rest of the D.C. area is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch tonight.
Forecasters say a line of storms may roll through the area with wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour. From the National Weather Service:
The storm, which hit just before 1:00 a.m., packed frequent, strobe-like lightning, high sustained winds and very heavy rain.
Several trees were reported down around Arlington, including one blocking Washington Blvd at 2nd Street N. Dominion reported 3,144 customers in Arlington County without power as of 1:30 a.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Arlington and the surrounding D.C. region.
Forecasters say thunderstorms with the potential for damaging wind and hail will spread across the area this afternoon and evening.
Dominion Virginia Power is reporting 4,245 customers without power in Arlington — almost 5 percent of all customers in the county. Power outages have been reported in Pentagon City, in Courthouse near I-66 and in the Virginia Square area.
The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall was evacuated during the storm due to a power outage there. Scanner reports suggest firefighters rescued some customers from stuck elevators. The Pentagon Centre mall was also reported to be without power.
Update at 5:00 p.m. — In addition to the Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Arlington is also now under a Flash Flood Warning.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
Arlington County is currently under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
From the National Weather Service:
Update at 7:35 p.m. — Arlington is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
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.
