Thunderstorms and flash floods threaten Alexandria on Friday

Alexandria officials are alerting residents to prepare for potential severe weather on Friday, May 30. The National Weather Service predicts a chance of thunderstorms and flash flooding in parts of Northern Virginia.

The forecast predicts widespread showers and thunderstorms that could bring strong winds, large hail, and flash flooding to the area.

As of 2:19 p.m., the National Weather Service has provided the following forecast for Friday for Alexandria.

Friday

A slight chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 5pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 80. West wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Northwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of
precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

The City has public works teams standing by to clean up flood debris should flooding occur.

Officials shared the following additional information.

What to do if There is a Thunderstorm or Flood

In the event of a storm or flooding, residents, business owners, and visitors should seek shelter, tune in to local media for more information, and take appropriate actions to keep their households safe.

Do not drive into flooded roadways. 

For immediate police, fire, or emergency medical assistance, call or text 911.

Call 703.746.4444 to report non-life-threatening requests, including downed trees, minor flooding, and downed traffic signals.

In the event of a power outage, please remember: Dominion Energy is responsible for restoring electricity. The City of Alexandria does not control the power grid or when service is restored.

To report a power outage or check restoration status, contact Dominion Energy in one of three easy ways:

1. Use the Dominion Energy mobile app (iPhone or Android).
2. Visit DominionEnergy.com. 
3. Call Dominion at 1-866-DOM-HELP (1.866.366.4357).

Prepare Now for Storms

As summer approaches, our area is prone to thunderstorms and severe weather. You can take steps to prepare now by:

• Signing up for emergency alerts at alexandriava.gov/eNews.
• Staying informed by visiting our website, social media.
• Making an emergency plan for your household following guidelines from VDEM.
• Ensuring outdoor items are secure in the event of high winds. 
• Knowing where spare batteries, candles, and your fully charged devices are before a storm hits.