The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department has rescued a group of hikers who got stuck at Scott’s Run Nature Preserve during the storm that just passed through Northern Virginia.
According to scanner traffic, rescue and swift water rescue units were dispatched to the park off of Georgetown Pike around 6:23 p.m., as a thunderstorm dropped a deluge of rain on northern Fairfax County.
FCFRD spokesperson Ashley Hildebrandt says around six to eight people were walking through the park when water in the creek started to rise, leaving them unable to turn around. Fortunately, rescuers were able to get to them without issue.
“They are all safe,” she told FFXnow in an update at 7:18 p.m.
The storm appears to also be causing traffic backups on Georgetown Pike, with traffic cameras showing congestion at the I-495 interchange. The road has been closed from the Capital Beltway to Swinks Mill Road as a result of downed lines, according to Fairfax Alerts.
The Virginia Department of Transportation warns that drivers should also expect delays “due to standing water.”
According to VDOT, Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) is also closed between Cedar Lane and Prosperity Avenue in Merrifield “due to high water coming out of Long Branch.”
“Do NOT drive through flooded roads,” VDOT said, adding that flooded roads can be reported online or by phone to 800-FOR-ROAD.
#Fairfax: Rt 50 is blocked between Cedar Ln and Prosperity Ave due to high water coming out of Long Branch. Do NOT drive through flooded roads. #VaTraffic #TurnAroundDontDrown
Report flooded roads to https://t.co/12wxgee8pi or 800-FOR-ROAD pic.twitter.com/G3Ku4YDN3W
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) July 14, 2025
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Fairfax County, particularly for the McLean area to the north, shortly before 6 p.m.
According to the NWS, more than 1.5 inches of rain had already fallen in the area, as of 5:45 p.m., with another 1 to 2 inches expected.
As of 6:05 p.m., the NWS had increased the threat level for the Flash Flood Warning to “considerable,” meaning it could be life-threatening, the Capital Weather Gang said.
People are advised to move to high ground and avoid traveling if possible.
More than 2,100 Dominion Energy customers are currently without power, though it’s unclear how many outages are directly a result of the storm.
In addition to the rescue at Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, the FCFRD has been responding to a number of water rescues, including helping people who got stuck in their cars, Hildebrandt says. The department is also investigating a couple of lightning strikes, though no significant issues have been reported yet.
The full alert, which is scheduled to end at 8:45 p.m., is below:
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for…
Northwestern District of Columbia…South Central Montgomery County in central Maryland…Northwestern Arlington County in northern Virginia…Fairfax County in northern Virginia…
* Until 845 PM EDT.
* At 545 PM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between
1.5 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 2 to 3 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE…Radar and automated gauges.
IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include…
Arlington… Bethesda…Vienna… Pimmit Hills…Mclean… American Legion Bridge…Fort Totten… Potomac…Oakton… Tysons Corner…Takoma Park… Wolf Trap…Great Falls… Chevy Chase…Martin’s Additions… North Chevy Chase…Friendship Village… American University…Georgetown… Adams Morgan..
A Flood Watch for the region is scheduled to remain in place until midnight.
6:05pm: NWS has now increased the threat level of this Flash Flood Warning in NW DC, NE Fairfax, NW Arlington and southern Montgomery counties to “considerable,” which means LIFE-THREATENING flash flooding. Water rescues underway in Tysons Corner area #cwgalert
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
