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Tropical storm likely to bring heavy wind and rain to Alexandria this weekend

Expected tropical storm track (via National Weather Service)

Alexandrians should brace for a stormy weekend.

Rain is likely to kick off tonight after 11 p.m. and there’s a good chance it will continue through the weekend as a tropical storm approaches Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Tropical storm conditions are possible Saturday night. Between 1 and 2 inches of rainfall is expected.

“Widespread rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected, with localized amounts up to 5 inches possible,” the National Weather Service said in an advisory today. “This may result in isolated instances of flooding, especially for low lying and flood prone areas. The heaviest rain is most likely to occur Saturday into Saturday night.”

Some of that rain is expected to continue into Sunday, with showers before 8 a.m.

The storm’s already had an impact on some Alexandria events. The first “Rock the Block” for the Eisenhower Corridor is being postponed thanks to the storm.

Sandbags are also being distributed for Old Town Businesses today from 2-3 p.m.

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UPDATE: Saturday’s Eisenhower Corridor block party postponed due to weather

The Eisenhower Rock the Avenue Block Party is on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 (courtesy image)

(Updated on Sept. 21) This Saturday’s first-ever Eisenhower Rock the Avenue Block Party to promote the Eisenhower Valley has been postponed due to a rainy forecast.

“As of this morning, it is still calling for 100% heavy rain and high wind,” event organizers wrote in an email. “Given these predictions, it would be very hard to hold an event with these miserable conditions.”

Eisenhower Partnership and SaltBox are hosting the inaugural event, which was to include a pop-up Cider Garden hosted by Lost Boy Cider, food and products from businesses on Eisenhower Avenue, as well as kid-friendly activities and live music.

A replacement date has not been announced.

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Heat advisory issued for Alexandria with heat index reaching over 100 degrees

Stay cool and keep hydrated; the National Weather Service said it’s going to be a hot day in Alexandria.

The heat advisory has been issued for noon to 8 p.m. today. Heat index values are expected to reach 100 and 105 across the region.

The National Weather Service advised those in the region to drink fluids, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors who might need help.

According to the National Weather Service:

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

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Brace Yourself: Flood Watch issued for Alexandria today

Flood watch issued (image via City of Alexandria/Twitter)

At the risk of flooding readers with stormwater stories today, locals recovering from last night’s flooding should be aware there’s a chance for more tonight.

A flood watch is different from a flood warning, but it’s of particular note coming to quickly after the last storm.

The City of Alexandria said there could be up to two inches of rainfall with excessive runoff in flood-prone locations around town.

The flood watch, ironically, overlaps with the start of a meeting about putting more resources into a flood mitigation grant program.

If you’re looking for something to tide you over until the weather passes, Port City noted that it has cases of Derecho beer in stock — a throwback to an interesting bit of local stormy brewing history.

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Notes: Clear skies today after yesterday’s storm

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: The weather forecast for Tuesday is mostly sunny with a high temperature of around 84 degrees, accompanied by a breezy west wind blowing at 14 to 20 mph, and gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature of about 67 degrees, and a west wind blowing at 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

🚨 You need to know

After Alexandria was hit with a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon, the city has some relief with clear skies today.

Alexandria has also fared better in the outage department than it has in the past and better than neighboring Fairfax and Arlington. As of this morning, there are only 15 customers without power in Alexandria, compared to 221 in Arlington and 1,463 around — the admittedly much larger — Fairfax County.

Alexandria is getting a few days of reprieve. The National Weather Service said today and tomorrow should be “mostly sunny” and “sunny” respectively, though there’s a chance of showers and a lighter thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon before returning to a streak of sunny skies.

📈 Monday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Aug 7, 2023.

  1. JUST IN: Tornado Watch issued for Alexandria and much of the region (3295 views)
  2. Notes: Suspect arrested after Hybla Valley shooting on Sunday (1342 views)
  3. National Weather Service warns of hazardous conditions today and tonight in Alexandria (1234 views)
  4. VIDEO: Driver arrested after Arlandria hit-and-runs Sunday morning (907 views)

🐦 Tweets of note

https://twitter.com/AlexandriaNow/status/1688657308266401792

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
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JUST IN: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Alexandria

Storm over the D.C. region (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Update at 6:10 p.m. — There are several outages reported around Alexandria due to the storm with around 2,000 total customers affected around the city. The largest outages are currently in the Lincolnia/Landmark areas.

The much-discussed storm has finally hit Alexandria.

The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Alexandria and nearby localities.

There are reports of downed power lines around the city. There are downed wires near the intersection of Route 1 and Cameron Street in Old Town, per scanner traffic.

Residents are being encouraged to go to their basements or to an interior portion of a sturdy structure, away from windows. The storms have been toppling trees and knocking out power over a large swath of Fairfax County prior to their arrival here.

https://twitter.com/patpend/status/1688667205406273537

More from the National Weather Service:

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
543 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning…

* Until 645 PM EDT.

* At 543 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from I66 and I495 Interchange to 12 miles west of Stafford, moving east at 50 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… Arlington, Alexandria, Waldorf, Dale City, Bethesda, Bowie, Annandale, Clinton, Springfield, College Park, Fort Washington, Greenbelt, Fairfax, Langley Park, Fort Hunt, Vienna, Groveton, Forestville, Falls Church and Huntington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for District of Columbia…central and southern Maryland…and northern Virginia.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature’s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

https://twitter.com/patpend/status/1688637003158441986

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Libraries, Torpedo Factory and more close ahead of potential storm threat

As Alexandria braces for a storm possibly rolling into town, several services around the city are shutting down preemptively.

All Alexandria Library branches are closing at 4 p.m. today due to “expected severe weather,” according to the library website.

All recreation programs and pools have been closed as well since 3 p.m. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is closing at 4 p.m. today, according to the city website. The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is also closing at 4 p.m. today.

Alexandria’s DASH bus network tweeted that the main facility is closed to visitors due to the storm and locals are encouraged to “minimize travel during this time.”

In addition to the hazardous conditions warning this morning from the National Weather Service, much of the region is also under a Tornado Watch.

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JUST IN: Tornado Watch issued for Alexandria and much of the region

The National Weather Service has updated its earlier hazardous conditions with a new Tornado Watch.

The watch is in effect for many localities across Northern Virginia and as far down as the Richmond area. The watch and hazardous conditions come one week after another storm hit Alexandria and took out power to much of the city.

The Tornado Watch is in effect until 9 p.m.

Forecasters say the threats include “damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes.”

Winds in excess of 74 miles per hour are possible.

…SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK EXPECTED OVER THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION BETWEEN 2 PM AND 10 PM TODAY, INCLUDING THE GREATER BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREAS…

An outbreak of severe storms is expected this afternoon and evening across the greater Baltimore/Washington region, with numerous severe thunderstorms expected. There is a significant threat for damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes.

The timing of this outbreak varies with your location. West of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you can expect the storms to arrive between 12 Noon and 3 PM. East of the Blue Ridge Mountains, timing will be from 4 PM to 8 PM. The greater Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan Areas can expect the storms to arrive between 5 PM and 7 PM.

Now is the time to review your severe weather safety procedures for the possibility of dangerous weather today. Do not be outdoors when the storms arrive. When you hear thunder, go indoors to a sturdy building or structure. While seeking shelter indoors, go to the lowest floor to an interior room. Stay away from windows. Those in mobile homes or weaker structures should plan ahead of time to shelter in a stronger shelter. Be prepared for extended power outages, and the potential for some roads to be blocked by fallen trees.

For the after-event cleanup, do not go outside until 30 minutes after you hear the last thunder, otherwise you will be still susceptible to lightning strikes. Be aware of downed power lines and unstable branches and trees.

Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, weather.gov, or other media for watches and warnings. If a Severe Thunderstorm Warning or Tornado Warning is issued for your area, move to a place of safety, ideally in an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building.

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National Weather Service warns of hazardous conditions today and tonight in Alexandria

Last night’s storms might only be the start, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The city has had a rainy few weeks and now, the NWS says there’s a “hazardous weather outlook” in effect today and tonight for much of the region. NWS said the primary threat is damaging winds, but other threats include possible tornadoes and large hail.

“Numerous severe thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and evening,” the NWS said. “Damaging winds will be the primary threat, some of these winds may become locally destructive. Additionally, a few tornadoes and large hail are possible. Isolated to scattered instances of flooding are also possible.”

The forecast calls for scattered showers and thunderstorms between 2-5 p.m.

“Scattered showers and thunderstorms between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m.” the forecast said. “Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. High near 91. South wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.”

That’s expected to continue tonight from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. with heavy rainfall, but the good news is it’s expected to be partly sunny tomorrow and Wednesday.

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Alexandria still cleaning up after Saturday’s severe storm

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(Updated 1:25 p.m.) Alexandria is still clearing downed trees and in the wake of Saturday’s severe storm.

No one was reportedly injured in Saturday’s storm, which cut off power to an estimated 15,000 residents. As of Monday at around noon, there were still 131 households without power throughout Alexandria, according to Dominion Energy.

Some residents say they haven’t gotten a response from the city after a large tree fell through three properties in the 300 block of Queen Street.

“We can’t get the city out here one block from City Hall on a tree that’s city property, covering a city sidewalk on top of a city sign and over a city road,” said Scott Corzine on Queen Street. “We need somebody to take responsibility from the city to tell us if they are going to come take this tree down and this hazard to the community. We’re waiting to hear from someone and their response has been underwhelming to say the least.”

The street has since been partially closed for tree removal.

The city said debris, down traffic signals, and other issues can be reported to the city by calling 703 746 4444 or contacting Alex311.

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