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Updated: Cleanup, Closures Continue After Major Flash Flooding

Updated at 9 a.m. — The Fairfax County Park Authority said this morning (July 10) that the west parking lot at Scott’s Run and bridge at Lewinsville Park are still closed. 

Around the Tysons area, work is underway to clean up and repair roads, parks and even a high school after severe flash flooding yesterday.

“Nearly 5 inches of rain fell on Fairfax County Monday morning — nearly a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours, overwhelming numerous parts of our public infrastructure,” according to Fairfax County.

McLean High School had two hallways flooded along with the athletic locker rooms and coaches’ offices, Ellen Reilly, the principal of the high school, told Tysons Reporter, adding that Fairfax County Public Schools assessed the school today (July 9) to make sure that all of the areas were safe.

“Custodial staff worked throughout the day pumping out the water from the locker rooms and the carpets will be shampooed once everything dries out,” Reilly said.

The staff received a shout out on the high school’s Twitter:

Kirby Road will continue to be closed in McLean for several weeks as crews work to repair extensive damage.

The Fairfax County Park Authority said this morning that several parks in the Tysons area are closed as park teams assess the damage, including the west parking lot at Scott’s Run and bridge at Lewinsville Park.

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Kirby Road in McLean to be Closed for Weeks Due to Storm Damage

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Update on 7/10/19 — Both lanes of Kirby Road from Dolley Madison Blvd. to Claiborne Drive are open, but traffic barriers have been set up past that, according to information from the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management and forwarded by Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust.

Earlier: Severe weather damage will keep Kirby Road closed in McLean to through-traffic for the foreseeable future.

The road runs from Dolley Madison Blvd near the George Washington Memorial Parkway down to Great Falls Street. But flooding at Pimmit Run from storms yesterday means that while residents in the area are able to access their homes, the route no longer connects Dolley Madison Blvd to Old Dominion Drive.

https://twitter.com/VaDOTNOVA/status/1148731850686439424

“We have no specific timeline, but it will be weeks,” Ellen Kamilakis, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Transportation, told Tysons Reporter. “The water tore right through the road [and] exposed the area underneath all the way.”

Part of the upper asphalt is visible carved away by the storm, but Kamilakis said the damage underneath is so extensive that the road would not be able to support the weight of a car. Kamilakis said the road will require complete reconstruction — and a review of whether the road needs stormwater upgrades.

Earlier today (Tuesday) traffic on the road was stopped near Dolley Madison Blvd as the crew worked to finish clearing a debris-cluttered bridge, but Kamilakis said the closure will be tightened up to just the area immediately surrounding the broken section of the road.

Kamilakis said the cleaning crews had been working overnight to clear away the debris, and the VDOT Twitter noted that the efforts were rewarded by one local man who brought water to the workers.

Those trying to get from northern McLean to areas near Arlington will either have to go thrown “downtown” McLean or go further east to Glebe Road.

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After Flooding, McLean Little League Begins Repairs Ahead of Fall Season

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Following extensive damage from flash flooding yesterday (Monday), the McLean Little League is looking to repair its complex during the off-season.

Jen Nance, the president of the McLean Little League, told Tysons Reporter that the “serious damage” is still being assessed after the creek behind the facility flooded the fields at 1836 Westmoreland Street.

“It was definitely the most floodwaters we have seen in any recent history,” Nance said, adding that the flashing flooding “wreaked havoc.”

Before the flooding started, the facility managed opened up the fields for a local baseball group to use them for a camp this week. Seven cars belonging to the group’s coaches ended up floating around in the flooded parking lot during the brunt of the storm, Nance said. Luckily, no one was hurt.

By 12:30 p.m. yesterday, most of the water had receded from the fields, making the damage clearly visible. “[You] can tell where the debris from the creek got stuck in the fencing,” Nance said. “Debris is at least 6 feet up on the fence.”

Nance said that work will include rebuilding two dugouts, repairing fencing on three of the four fields and cleaning up the fields, adding that the tee-ball field has the worst amount of damage, while the front field suffered the least.

Currently, the McLean Little League complex is closed — “it’s not a secure, safe situation right now,” she said — and the nonprofit is working with vendors to determine the cost and timeframe for repairs.

“We’re thinking we can get it all repaired by the fall season,” Nance said, adding that “it’s too soon to know” when the repairs will be finished.

Tysons Reporter spoke to contractors inspecting the site today (July 9), who said that the goal is to reopen the complex by Labor Day.

While the McLean Little League hasn’t started a GoFundMe yet, Nance said that community fundraising is one option to pay for the repairs.

“We are a nonprofit, so we rely heavily on our community and donors,” she said. “This is a once in many year occurrence.”

Because of the timing of the flooding, Nance said that she expects the damage to have little impact on the team or the local community, which often will use the field.

“We don’t have games. The seasons are wrapping up,” she said. “I think it will be hopefully minimal. If we get rolling soon, there will be no impact on the fall season.”

For people who want to stay updated on the repair status, Nance recommends checking the McLean Little League’s Twitter and Facebook. Nance also suggests keeping an eye out for registration for the fall season, which is set to open in the next couple of weeks.

“We will likely continue to update via Twitter. Our population looks to that Twitter feed,” she said.

Vernon Miles contributed to this story

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UPDATED: Roads Closed in Tysons Area Following Major Flooding

Updated at 9 a.m. on 7/9/19 — Updates FCPD list of road closures below. Only Kirby Road is still closed.

Updated at 5:45 p.m. — Fairfax County police said that the 1300 block of Kirby Road will be closed “for significant time” while the damage is assessed.

Updated at 5:35 p.m. — In Falls Church, S. Oak Street remains closed because the bridge’s surface was damaged by the rain and Hillwood Avenue did not have a sinkhole, but the road buckled from the rain. A temporary fix is in place for the avenue, and a permanent fix will be made this week.

Flooding has apparently closed Westmoreland Street (exit 68) by I-66 in Falls Church.

Updated at 4:50 p.m. — Updated FCPD list of road closures below.

Updated at 2:40 p.m. — Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust tweeted at 2:30 p.m. that a part of 1300 block of Kirby Road has been washed out and that “several agencies are on scene to find a solution to make sure residents can get to their homes.”

Updated at 2:15 p.m. — Updates FCPD list of road closures below.

Updated at 1 p.m. — The Fairfax County Police Department tweeted that Prosperity Avenue between Arlington Blvd (Route 50) and Little River Turnpike (Route 236) is buckled and could take up to seven hours for the water to recede. “Due to there being a lot of serious damage to the pavement, the road will not reopen this quickly,” FCPD tweeted.

Updated at 12:40 p.m. — A multi-vehicle accident on I-66 by N. West Street in Falls Church has closed the left shoulder and left lane heading eastbound, according to the Virginia Department of Transporation. 

Updated at 11:50 a.m. — Kirby Road is reportedly closed near Route 123 as Pimmit Run swells.

Updated at 11:25 a.m. — Maple Avenue is now open again, the Town of Vienna tweeted.

Earlier: Parts of Maple Avenue in the Town of Vienna and several roads around the Tysons area are closed this morning as flooding continues around Fairfax County.

The Town of Vienna tweeted shortly after 10 a.m. that Maple Avenue is closed between East Street and Beulah Road due to flooding.

Westbound Arlington Blvd (Route 50) just past Prosperity Avenue is closed due to flooding. Police told Tysons Reporter that they don’t have enough police to block the other side of the street, which also appears flooded.

Around 10:35 p.m., police said that all of the units in the county were currently deployed.

Fairfax County Police Department released a list of road closures. The ones closed due to flooding in the McLean Police District are:

1300 block of Kirby Road — damaged from flooding and will have a long-term closure

Shreve Road between Wieland Place and Buckelew Drive

Hilltop Road between Willomere and Old Lee Hwy

Meadowlark Road/Brookside Lane

Demsey Street/Old Chesterbrook Road

Old Courthouse and Besley roads

Georgetown Pike and Potomac River Road — one lane closed

6500 block of Old Dominion Drive

North Albemarle Street/Chesterbrook Road — flooding and debris

Westbound Arlington Blvd/Prosperity Avenue — one lane open

Jones Branch Road/Park Run Drive

Lewinsville Road/Lewinsville Mews Court

Beulah and Browns Mill roads

Oberon Way/Capulet Court

A fallen tree closed the 1400 block of Waggaman Circle, according to FCPD, but the road has since reopened.

People tweeted videos and photos of severe flooding along Georgetown Pike.

The City of Falls Church tweeted about several road closures and sinkholes in the city this morning.

Catherine Moran and Vernon Miles worked on this story.

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UPDATED: Major Flash Flooding Leads to Water Rescues, Flooded Basements

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Updated at 1:35 p.m. — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted that firefighters rescued the driver of a box truck on Arlington Blvd near Prosperity Avenue around 9:45 a.m. 

Updated at 12:25 p.m. — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted that it has responded to 55 swift water rescue calls. 

Tripps Run has reportedly flooded into backyards and basements in the City of Falls Church.

Updated at 12:05 p.m. — A spokesperson for the Arlington County Fire Department said that AFCD responded to a hazmat call for a flooded building with a fuel leak in the basement at Coleman PowerSports at 435 S. Washington Street in Falls Church.

Updated at 11:20 a.m. — First responders continue responding to numerous reports of flooded roads and swift water rescues.

Earlier: As flash flooding hits Fairfax County, several drivers are stranded in flooded roadways in McLean, Vienna and Merrifield.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted at 9:46 a.m. today (July 8) that units are responding to about 30 calls for swift water rescues. The fire department tweeted earlier this morning that a majority of its roughly 11 calls were in the McLean and Vienna areas.

“If you do not have to be on the roads right now – stay off,” the fire department tweeted.

Tysons Reporter spotted several cars backed up and in water along Arlington Blvd (Route 50), which was flooded by Prosperity Avenue.

Earlier today, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue got three occupants out of a car stuck in the flooded roadway at Meadowlark Road and Brookside Lane in the Wolf Trap area.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue also responded to a swift water rescue in the 6500 block of Old Dominion Drive in the McLean area and worked to rescue two occupants from the car.

https://twitter.com/fairfaxcounty/status/1148226955638181888

Catherine Moran and Vernon Miles worked on this story.

First photo via @SteveML9022/Twitter

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UPDATED: Flood Warning in Effect for Fairfax County

Updated at 2:10 p.m. — NWS extended the Flood Warning for parts of Fairfax County to 6 p.m. 

At 1252 PM EDT, reporting gauges indicate larger streams are still rising from the earlier torrential rain, and many road closures are still being reported. Although the threat of rapid rise life threatening flooding is diminishing, some flooding is likely to continue for the rest of the afternoon. Therefore, this Flood Warning replaces the Flash Flood Warning.

Updated at 10:25 a.m. — NWS extended the Flash Flood Warning for parts of Fairfax County to 1:45 p.m. 

Earlier: A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Fairfax County, the City of Falls Church and surrounding areas this morning.

The National Weather Service issued the warning right after 8:30 a.m. today (July 8). The warning will be in effect until 10:45 a.m.

More from NWS:

At 829 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated that heavy rain was falling over the area. Up to two inches of rain have already fallen, and another one to two inches of rain are likely. Flash flooding is already occurring. Rock Creek is extremely likely to flood in the next hour or two, potentially significantly. This will force additional road closures beyond what are already ongoing. DO NOT DRIVE into areas where water covers roadways and especially not where water is flowing on or across them!!!

Some locations that will experience flooding include… Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Reston, Olney, Herndon, Langley Park, Vienna, Falls Church, Lowes Island, Pimmit Hills, Poolesville, Mclean, American Legion Bridge, Fort Totten, Rosslyn, Aspen Hill, Potomac, North Bethesda and Ashburn.

https://twitter.com/fairfaxcounty/status/1148211243934765056

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UPDATED: Flash Flood Watch Canceled for Fairfax County

Updated at 2:45 p.m. — NWS canceled the Flash Flood Watch for Fairfax County.

Earlier: Get ready for heavy rain this afternoon and evening.

Fairfax County and surrounding areas are under a Flash Flood Watch starting at 2 p.m. today (Monday).

More from the National Weather Service:

* From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through this evening

* Numerous to widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and this evening in a very warm and humid environment. There is potential for showers to move repeatedly over the same areas and to produce intense rainfall rates in a short period of time that may lead to flash flooding. The greatest risk of flash flooding is across northern and central Maryland.

NWS wants people to monitor the forecast and stay alert to any possible Flash Flood Warnings that may pop up.

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UPDATED: Heavy Rainfall, Storms Expected This Afternoon Through Tomorrow Morning

Update 1 p.m. — The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for the region until midnight with Flash Flood Watch remaining in effect.

Hope you brought a rain jacket, Tysons, because the region is expected to get soaked this afternoon (Friday) through tomorrow morning.

A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for the region, including Fairfax County, with 1.5-2 inches of rain expected but even more possible. More from the National Weather Service:

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT… SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE REGION BY THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING BEFORE DEPARTING LATE TONIGHT. REPETITIVE STORMS AND MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN RAINFALL AMOUNTS WHICH COULD EXCEED 3 INCHES LOCALLY. FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE, PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AREAS AND IN AREAS OF STEEP TERRAIN. 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. &&

The flooding potential is of particular concern to parts of the Tysons, McLean and Vienna area that are flood prone.

The potential for severe weather has also prompted some airlines to waive change fees for travel Friday. Forecasters say damaging storms are possible later today.

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Where is the Tysons Region Most Flood Prone?

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If last week’s surprise rainstorm was any indication, the Tysons area is in for a wet spring and some extensive flooding.

Last year was the rainiest on record for the region, which has not only taken a toll on local roads but also hit the area with flooding that has frequently closed streets.

A map put together by the Federal Emergency Management Agency showed the regional flood hazard areas, which unsurprisingly mostly follow local creeks.

Most of the flood hazards around Tysons itself are on the periphery. Old Courthouse Spring Branch just west of the Spring Hill Metro station is vulnerable to flooding, as is Scott’s Run, which runs through Tysons East.

In Vienna, the main flooding hazard is Wolftrap Creek, which runs along the Tysons-Vienna border. There are several low roads through the area, like Old Courthouse Road, which are subject to being washed out during flooding. The area north of Vienna along Piney Branch is also susceptible to flooding.

A 2016 study found that the sewer system along Maple Avenue in Vienna would be unable to handle significant rainfall, but sewer renovations remain unfunded.

In McLean, Dead Run Stream and Pimmit Run are both flood hazard areas, though Dead Run Stream has recently completed a series of revitalization projects whose aim was partially reducing the amount of flooding in the park.

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Much of N. Va. Now Under Flood Watch

A steady, soaking rain today may lead to flooding around Fairfax County and Northern Virginia.

The National Weather Service says 1-3 inches of rain will fall today, with the heaviest rain between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The rain may cause creeks and streams to rise and flood low-lying areas, forecasters say.

More from NWS:

…FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING… THE FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR * PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 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. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA, EASTERN LOUDOUN, FAIRFAX, PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK, AND WESTERN LOUDOUN. * FROM 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING * A WIDESPREAD SOAKING RAIN OF 1 TO 2 INCHES IS EXPECTED. ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF AROUND 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. THE STEADIEST RAIN IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 10 AM THIS MORNING AND 6 PM THIS EVENING, WITH RESIDUAL RUNOFF POSSIBLY PERSISTING THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. * THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY CAUSE SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS TO GO OUT OF THEIR BANKS, AS WELL AS CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW-LYING, URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. &&

Some flight delays have been reported at Reagan National Airport as a result of the rain.

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