Another round of storms could hit Fairfax County this afternoon (Thursday), prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Flood Watch for the region.
Set to take effect from 2-11 p.m., the alert warns that a mass of “tropical air” expected to pass through the area could produce “torrential downpours,” potentially leading to flash flooding.
In a forecast released around 4 a.m., the NWS rated the likelihood of severe thunderstorms in the Mid-Atlantic region as a “slight risk,” but noted that “frequent lightning and severe thunderstorm wind gusts” could be threats.
Today will bring active weather again with a Flood Watch for flash flooding issued from 2-11 PM. This is for the I-95 corridor back to north-central MD & northern VA. Additionally, there is an increased risk of strong to severe thunderstorms, especially from U.S. 15 eastward. pic.twitter.com/MagwHsKnF9
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 9, 2026
Fairfax County urged residents to take precautions, pointing to the June 22 “microburst” that devastated neighborhoods in the Royal Lake area of Burke as a reminder that “summer storms … can turn dangerous fast.”
“The National Weather Service confirmed peak winds of about 90 mph,” the county said in an emergency blog post. “That storm snapped and uprooted trees across the area, and many fell on homes, cars, roads and power lines.”
Though no injuries were reported, nine families lost their homes in that storm, and many others are still reeling from its tornado-like impacts. The county has established a webpage with resources to help affected residents with the disaster recovery process.
More recently, a thunderstorm on Monday (July 6) hit the Reston and Herndon area particularly hard, knocking out electricity for thousands of residents and uprooting trees that crushed vehicles.
More on today’s Flood Watch from the National Weather Service:
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 2 P.M. TO 11 P.M. EDT THURSDAY.
…Strong thunderstorms will track across the area with a tropical air mass supporting torrential downpours. These will be capable of producing flash flooding…
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE…Washington D.C., including the following areas in Maryland, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Cecil, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Frederick, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Northwest Howard, Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford and Southern Baltimore, and northern Virginia, including the following areas, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, Northwest Prince William and Western Loudoun.
* WHEN…From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through this evening.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms are likely to push across the region this afternoon and evening. With a continued tropical air mass over the area, very heavy rainfall rates are possible in many of these storms. These rates could approach 2 to 3 inches per hour, with higher instantaneous rates possible. The most vulnerable locations would be urbanized areas along I-95 as well as areas which have experienced heavy rainfall in recent days.
– Please visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness information
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
