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
A house in Tysons caught fire after being struck by a lightning bolt during last night’s thunderstorm, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says.
Fairfax and Arlington county firefighters were dispatched to a two-story, single-family house in the 1900 block of Hull Road at approximately 8:57 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday).
Upon arriving at the scene, the units could see fire showing through the house’s roof. They “rapidly” extinguished the fire, and there were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries, according to the FCFRD report.
However, four occupants of the house have been displaced, and the blaze resulted in approximately $90,000 in damages.
FCFRD says that the house’s four occupants were all at home when the fire started:
Four occupants were home at the time of the fire. The occupants heard a loud bang, saw a flash of lightning, and then smelled smoke. All occupants evacuated the home. 9-1-1 was called. Smoke alarms did not sound due to the location of the fire.
Fire Investigators determined that the fire was natural in nature and started on the exterior of the home. The cause of the fire was a lightning strike.
The Fairfax County and Arlington fire departments also responded to a house fire in the 7700 block of Virginia Lane in Falls Church last night. A cause and estimate of damages have not been announced yet, but the blaze did not result in any reported injuries.
UPDATE- house fire in the 7700 block of Virginia Lane. Fire in attic. Fire now out. No reported injuries at this time. @ArlingtonVaFD assisting. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/fFVp9y95Uo
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) May 27, 2021
Photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
More than 5,000 people in northern Fairfax County are currently without power, as a thunderstorm pummels the D.C. area.
According to Dominion Energy’s outage map, the largest outages are concentrated in the east Reston and Great Falls area and north of Tysons, where 1,075 customers between Lewinsville Road and Georgetown Pike are without power due to the storm, which started pouring rain earlier this evening (Thursday).
For the Tysons outage, a crew is currently assessing the damage, but Dominion has not determined an estimated time of restoration yet.
In a Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued at 8:21 p.m., the National Weather Service advised residents to move indoors to the lowest part of their residence.
“Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately,” the NWS said. “Lightning is one of nature’s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.”
Great Falls, McLean, Falls Church… https://t.co/Jx8LAn5ED0
— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) May 27, 2021
Image via Dominion Energy
Updated at 4:35 p.m. — Vienna and Falls Church have now been added to the Severe Thunderstorm Warning, which has been extended to 5:15 p.m. today.
Earlier: Fairfax County and other areas in Northern Virginia have been put under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning on top of a Severe Thunderstorm Watch that will be in effect until 10 p.m.
Here is the full alert from the National Weather Service, which is scheduled to last until 4:45 p.m.:
At 405 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Warrenton, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts.
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…
Centreville, Reston, Annandale, South Riding, Herndon, Fairfax, Mantua, Dulles International Airport, Burke, Linton Hall, Oakton, Sterling, Chantilly, Merrifield, Bull Run, Haymarket, Arcola, Manassas, Sudley and Manassas Park.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
Updated at 4:10 p.m. — The National Weather Service has now upgraded Fairfax County to a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, advising people to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
In effect until 4:45 p.m., the warning was issued at 4:01 p.m. after a severe thunderstorm was spotted near Middleburg. The storm was reportedly moving east at 30 miles per hour.
Here is the full alert:
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
Southeastern Loudoun County in northern Virginia…
Northwestern Fairfax County in northern Virginia…
Northeastern Fauquier County in northern Virginia…
Northwestern Prince William County in northern Virginia…* Until 445 PM EDT.
* At 400 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Middleburg, or 8 miles west of Brambleton, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts.
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…
Reston, South Riding, Herndon, Vienna, Broadlands, Lowes Island, Brambleton, Dulles International Airport, Ashburn, Oakton, Sterling, Chantilly, Wolf Trap, Great Falls, Countryside, Middleburg, Arcola, Belmont, Aldie and Sterling Park.
Earlier: Fairfax County is currently under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, with scattered showers anticipated throughout the D.C. area this afternoon.
The alert will be in effect until 8 p.m. The National Weather Service says that a thunderstorm could potentially hit after 5 p.m.
“Some storms could be severe, with large hail and damaging winds,” the NWS forecast for Tysons says.
With a 60% chance of precipitation, between a tenth and a quarter of an inch of rain could fall this afternoon, and another quarter to half inch could come in the evening.
[5/4/21 at 2:35 PM]
⚠️Fairfax County is currently under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch ⛈️ until 8 PM
🚨Know your alerts: Watch (be prepared) vs. Warning (take action)
🏫Identify your safe place: inside, interior, no windows#VaWx #ReadyFairfax #BePrepared pic.twitter.com/ADS53eMd5E— Ready Fairfax (@ReadyFairfax) May 4, 2021
Map via National Weather Service
Update at 11 p.m. — Power was restored earlier tonight. The cause of the outage was an issue with a transmission line.
Outage Update: We're down to 1,463 customers out from 32,216 two hours ago. The problem was a piece of equipment on a transmission line affecting several circuits. Our crews are still out there working (of course!) to get all customers back up! Thank you for your patience.
— Peggy Fox (@PeggyDomEnergy) October 29, 2020
Earlier: The Dominion power outage map is red throughout the Tysons area — primarily east of the Beltway — as today’s storms leave thousands without power.
All of Pimmit Hills, McLean, and much of Merrifield and Falls Church have been left in the dark. The cause of the outage is still listed as “pending investigation.” The restoration time was estimated as between 5-10 p.m.
The area is under a flood watch as downpours continue from Hurricane Zeta, closing down several roads in the area.
“I can tell you our crews are out working on the problem, trying to get everyone’s power back,” said Dominion spokeswoman Peggy Fox.
So…anyone have any clue how widespread this power outage in Mclean/ Falls Church is?
— Ben Lefebvre (@bjlefebvre) October 29, 2020
@DominionEnergy can you say what the cause is of widespread power outages in McLean, VA? And estimate time until power restored? Thx
— GoodKellyAnne (@kellymcst) October 29, 2020
Image via Dominion Power
Fairfax County is under a Tornado Watch until 10 p.m. today (Thursday).
The National Weather Service issued the alert shortly after 3:30 p.m.
Forecasters say that residents in the Tysons-area may see heavy thunderstorms this evening.
Be Aware: There is a POTENTIAL for TORNADOES and DAMAGING WIND GUSTS from severe thunderstorms this afternoon & early tonight for a large part of our area. Stay weather aware & be ready to seek shelter if warnings are issued or severe weather threatens. #vawx #mdwx #dcwx #wvwx pic.twitter.com/GB9xtpM4WE
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) September 3, 2020
BREAKING: Tornado watch issued for entire region until 10 p.m. Storms with torrential rain, localized damaging winds likely through this evening. A few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
Updates: https://t.co/5SDZ7bq9nl pic.twitter.com/k08D1HvUJ7
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) September 3, 2020
Stay weather alert this afternoon and evening as scattered to numerous severe storms are expected to move across our area from west to east. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out. For the latest forecast visit https://t.co/t54l4ELo2o pic.twitter.com/UwlivesMBs
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) September 3, 2020
Fairfax County is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch tonight.
The National Weather Service issued the watch shortly after 3:30 p.m. It will be in effect until 11 p.m.
Forecasters say that the D.C. area may see severe storms this evening.
Later this week, NWS says the D.C. region may see damaging wind gusts and severe thunderstorms on Saturday from Hurricane Laura.
Severe storms *possible* in DC area this evening, esp in 5-10p timeframe, but isolated activity poss earlier. Damaging winds main threat. Low confidence in how widespread these will be. https://t.co/mWyDsUvUPm
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) August 25, 2020
While a few showers or even a brief rumble of thunder is possible this morning, the main severe weather threat is later this afternoon into early this evening. An enhanced risk of severe weather extends over much of MD and portions of northern VA and eastern WV, including DC. pic.twitter.com/E2yZD9kcf0
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 25, 2020
Updated 9:50 a.m. — Aas a Flood Warning is in effect for the area until 3:30 p.m. today. NWS said that Vienna, Falls Church, Tysons and Merrifield may experience flooding.
Earlier: People can expect more thunderstorms and possibly heavy rain.
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Watch for today (Thursday).
More from NWS:
Slow moving thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall may develop today. Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms may lead to flash flooding.
Potential impacts include rapid rises of water, flooded roads and flooding of structures in low lying areas near streams. Landslides and washouts are also possible.
People are advised to not drive through water they don’t know the depth.
Another flash flood watch is in effect for today. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms with heavy rain will be possible. pic.twitter.com/w40WR0SEvU
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 13, 2020
Flash Flood Watch In Effect until midnight tonight (8/13)! If you must be on roads, never drive through a flooded roadway! PLEASE #TurnAroundDontDrown! Plan alternate routes around flooded roads. Don't put you, any passengers AND #FCFRD firefighters/paramedics in harm’s way! pic.twitter.com/xhoUAocquH
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 13, 2020
Get ready for another summer thunderstorm. A Flash Flood Watch will be in effect in Fairfax County this afternoon and evening.
The National Weather Service says that thunderstorms and showers could bring 1-2 inches of rain with some areas possibly getting up to 4 inches.
“A cold front will move into the area Wednesday and then stall out,” according to NWS. “Numerous slow-moving showers and thunderstorms will pose a risk of flash flooding.”
Flash Flood Watch expanded westward for today and tonight. pic.twitter.com/8DUzrASBwL
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 12, 2020