BREAKING: Flooding in Old Town as Potomac River nears high tide

Staff from Alexandria Toyota desperately piled sandbags in front of Chadwicks (203 Strand Street) as floodwaters started to swell and shut down several blocks of Old Town.

The National Weather Service has issued an areal flood warning for Alexandria, in addition to a coastal flood warning in place until Saturday.

Around 2:15 p.m., Strand Street and parts of Union Street were closed due to high floodwaters, with police and city staff warning drivers to turn back. Waters are expected to continue rising until high tide around 3:30 p.m.

Around the waterfront, locals helped pile sandbags in front of businesses and watched as water levels crept higher.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Several streets in Old Town are closed due to flooding. Union Street is closed between Queen St & Prince St. AVOID THE AREA! pic.twitter.com/FaoC9cuT99

— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) October 29, 2021

Several businesses and institutions closer to the waterfront, like the Torpedo Factory, were closed.

Torpedo Factory Art Center is closing early today at 1:30 p.m. in an abundance of caution due to the risk of flooding. We hope to reopen the building tomorrow, but it will not be at the regularly scheduled 10 a.m. Watch this space for updates.

Please s… https://t.co/4TpedectnV pic.twitter.com/KBEZeQVx0s

— Torpedo Factory (@TorpedoFactory) October 29, 2021

Flooding in Old Town – please avoid the area & move your car. pic.twitter.com/zUp6FmGd3n

— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) October 29, 2021