Vienna tends to flood. Recent heavy rainfall has not only impacted local streams, but locals may have seen high water in Vienna’s downtown area near the Town Green.

It’s an issue that town staff have been working for years to address, and solutions have been identified, but year after year have remained unfunded.

A report presented to the Vienna Town Council in December 2016 examined the state of Vienna’s sewer infrastructure, particularly at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Center Street N. in the center of the town.

The study found that there were places that experienced significant flooding where existing sewer infrastructure was unable to handle storm volume. Town staff confirmed that improvements suggested in the study were included in the CIP, but have yet to receive funding.

The report indicates that there are three major locations for flooding in three different areas. According to the report:

• In moderate storms, flooding first occurs along Center Street at the location of the N Condos building and Starbucks parking lot.
• In more intense storm events, flooding occurs in the area of the Freeman House Museum, at Church Street NW and Dominion Road NE.
• Flooding also occurs near the intersection of Mill Street NE and Ayr Hill Avenue.

The report notes that flooding at the Starbucks is generally seen as the first sign of storm sewer capacity issues. The report noted that the ponding at these issues is more indicative of capacity problems than issues with draining.

“The ponding in all three areas of concern is a result of storm sewer surcharge, rather than surface drainage issues,” the study said. “This is evidenced by the ponding that occurs during a storm event and the rapid dissipation of ponded water immediately after the rain intensity subsides.”

The study assessed every outfall and junction in downtown Vienna and found that the system is unprepared for handling severe storms.

“The flow capacity of portions of the existing storm sewer system is insufficient to carry the stormwater calculated for a 10-year frequency storm,” the study said.

Ten-year floods are floods that have a 10 percent chance of happening in any given year, though there is some concern that this type of descriptor can lead to a false sense of security for those in areas prone to flooding.

Crucial to any fix to the local sewers, the study said, would be preventing flooding at the Freeman House and Starbucks, which are most prone to flooding.

The report recommended clearing debris and obstructions to sewer flow but that more substantial improvements will be needed over time.

“Even with clean sewers, the flow capacity in the piped portion of the system is lacking in two general areas,” the study said. “Sewer system improvements will be needed if the system is expected to move the flows resulting from a ten-year frequency storm, without undue flooding.”

A burst pipe has closed a handful of stores in Tysons Corner Center mall.

Around 11 a.m., water spilled into stores in the Nordstrom wing of the mall. The Aveda and White House Black Market both faced substantial water accumulation and were evacuated.

Frozen pipes, and subsequent bursts, are a common hazard of sudden temperature drops.

Janitorial staff are currently on scene cleaning the flooded areas, but an employee at Aveda said there store is likely to be closed for the remainder of the day. The damage to the stores has not yet been determined.

At one point, a delivery person came along with boxes of merchandise and asked whether or not to drop it off inside. The employee shrugged and pointed to the flooded store.

(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) Rising waters due to heavy rain have prompted a road closure west of Tysons.

Fairfax County Police closed Old Courthouse Road at Besley Road after floodwaters from nearby Wolftrap Creek inundated the roadway. There’s no word on how long the closure will remain in place.

It was the only reported closure in the McLean police district as of 1 p.m., though others had been reported around Fairfax County, including:

• Fairfax Station Road at Innisvale Drive due to water in the roadway
• Woodburn Road at Spicewood Road due to water in the roadway
• Burke Lake Road at Kilkenny Lane due to water in the roadway
• Burke Road at Heritage Square Drive due to water in the roadway
• Fox Mill Road at Folkstone Drive due to water in the roadway
• Lawyers Road between Galloping Way and Whipporwill Road due to water in the roadway

There were also scattered reports of standing water on local roads that wasn’t high enough to prompt closures but did create a driving hazard.

Parts of Fairfax County, meanwhile, are under a Flood Warning Thursday evening.

Flood warnings have been posted for areas in green until 8/8:30 this evening. Never drive through a flooded road. The rain is over now and we are looking dry through the weekend. pic.twitter.com/AUnGoU7UBm

— Amelia Draper (@amelia_draper) January 24, 2019

Fairfax County is again reminding drivers to “turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded streets. The fire department posted the following VDOT safety video earlier today.

Map via Google Maps

Fairfax County and surrounding areas will be under a Flood Watch and a Wind Advisory on Thursday, as heavy rain and strong winds rake across the region.

About 1-2 inches of rain is expected to fall starting tonight through midday Thursday, potentially causing flooding in low-lying areas and along streams and creeks.

More from the National Weather Service:

…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT… * FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON * RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND 1 INCH ARE EXPECTED, WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS OF 1.5 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE. * EXCESS RUNOFF FROM A NEARLY FROZEN GROUND AND SATURATED SOILS WILL CAUSE THE POTENTIAL FOR STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS AS WELL AS POTENTIAL FLOODING IN LOW LYING URBAN 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. &&

In addition to the rain, damaging winds are possible.

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO NOON EST THURSDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO NOON EST THURSDAY. * TIMING…THURSDAY MORNING. * WINDS…SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. * IMPACTS…GUSTY WINDS WILL BLOW AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS. TREE LIMBS COULD BE BLOWN DOWN AND A FEW POWER OUTAGES MAY RESULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. &&

More via Twitter:

Both flood watch and wind advisory in effect for DMV Thursday morning. Over an inch of rain possible, and wind gusts to 40 to 50 mph as strong cold front sweeps through. More info: https://t.co/zDJoNCDXkq pic.twitter.com/ZTVbjaHKoj

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) January 23, 2019

Wind Advisory (brown) for the DC/Baltimore Metro areas & S MD from 6 AM-Noon tomorrow. Wind Advisories/High Wind Warnings along the Blue Ridge/Allegheny Front are currently in effect and go through 6 AM Thursday. 50+ MPH gusts, scattered tree damage and power outages possible. pic.twitter.com/vjMWH7SM9R

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) January 23, 2019

Photo (top) via National Weather Service

Fairfax County’s Big Job Adds — “Fairfax County’s Economic Development Authority worked with 164 companies in calendar year 2017 to add, eventually, nearly 8,200 jobs. Three announcements, including a doozy from Amazon Web Services, accounted for 70 percent of that total… The Transportation Security Administration’s 2020 relocation from Pentagon City to Springfield: 3,000 jobs. AWS’ East Coast hub in Herndon: 1,500 jobs. And Favor TechConsulting, a Tysons-based minority-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned government contractor: 1,200 jobs.” [Washington Business Journal]

What’s Closed for New Year — “Fairfax County offices will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, while schools, parks and other services will be closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Some services like transit will be during New Year’s Eve events. Services will resume Tuesday, Jan. 2 unless noted.” [Patch]

Flood Watch in Effect — Expect periods of rain today. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for much of the region through late tonight. “Excessive runoff from already saturated soils will cause the potential for streams and creeks to rise out of their banks as well as flooding in low lying urban areas,” forecasters say. [Weather.gov, Twitter]

Rainy Weather Driving Tips — “The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has some good guidance for safe driving in the rain, like keeping extra distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Also, turn on your lights anytime it’s raining.” [Fairfax County Fire, YouTube]

What to Do About Backyard Wildlife — “Don’t pet or feed wild animals. In fact, local animal control encourages you to ‘haze’ them if at all possible. As winter sets in, homes around Fairfax County could look particularly appealing to animals looking for a refuge for the cold weather or a bite to eat.” [Reston Now]

Flood Watch Today — The area remains under a Flood Watch through 6 p.m. as rain continues today. Some storms may form later in the day. This evening, the solstice will usher in winter on the shortest day and longest night of the year. [FairfaxNews, Capital Weather Gang]

Winter Weather Reminder — “Today is officially the first day of winter! Enjoy the season but stay safe and warm. Sign up for Fairfax Alerts to stay informed on winter weather.” [Twitter, Fairfax Alerts]

Holiday Grocery Store Hours — Patch has a list of grocery stores around the Tysons area and the hours for each on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Most grocery stores will be closed on Dec. 25, though some will be open with reduced hours. [Patch]

The following article excerpt is from our content sharing partner, FairfaxNews.com.

Rain that pelted Fairfax County Saturday left several roads flooded, trapping some motorists in their cars.

Close to an inch and a half of rain was recorded at Dulles Airport in the twenty-four hours ending at 7 a.m. Sunday, most of it falling between noon and 6 p.m. Saturday.

Fairfax County firefighters rescued two people who were trapped in their vehicle, just after midnight Sunday morning, at Browns Mill Rd and Windstone Dr. in Vienna.

Just after midnight this morning (11/25) units responded to Browns Mill Rd/Windstone Dr. in Vienna area for water rescue. 2 people were trapped in car. Station 39, North Point, crew conducted a shallow water crossing to remove the both. Both evaluated by EMS. No injuries. #fcfrd pic.twitter.com/csMy5QqQ1U

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) November 25, 2018

Read more at FairfaxNews.com