Severe thunderstorm could cause flash flooding in Fairfax County, National Weather Service warns

Updated at 3:50 p.m. — A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for Fairfax County until 6:30 p.m.

Updated at 2:45 p.m. — The Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been extended to 3:30 p.m., and the list of affected locations now includes Vienna and Falls Church.

Earlier: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area, joining a Flash Flood Watch that will take effect at 2 p.m. today (Thursday).

The thunderstorm watch took effect at 12:40 p.m. and will remain in place until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has also been issued for the northeastern part of the county, including Wolf Trap and McLean around the American Legion Bridge. That will be in effect until 1:45 p.m.

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning from the NWS says:

* At 103 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Ashburn, or near Broadlands, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE…Radar indicated.

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…
Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Reston, Olney, Herndon, Broadlands, Lansdowne, Lowes Island, Brambleton, American Legion Bridge, Aspen Hill, Potomac, North Bethesda, Ashburn, Sterling, North Potomac, Redland, Wolf Trap and Great Falls.

“For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,” the NWS advises.

https://twitter.com/ReadyFairfax/status/1410646981861597186

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for parts of DE, DC, MD, NJ, PA, VA until 8 PM EDT. #MDwx #VAwx #DCwx pic.twitter.com/2sf7WdTrtE

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 1, 2021