Weather

Update — The Tornado Watch was canceled for Fairfax County at 6:30 p.m., but a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is still in place until 10 p.m. 

Earlier: Severe thunderstorm and tornado watches have been issued for Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. region.


News

Four years after construction finished on the Vienna Market townhouses, the commercial space intended to support the new homes and draw visitors to a central stretch of Maple Avenue remains empty.

That could soon change after the owner of a new medical spa bought approximately 5,500 square feet of commercial space — more than half of the development’s available 8,200 square feet — for $2.55 million earlier this month.


Around Town

As preparations continue on a taproom expansion, Lake Anne Brew House will build anticipation for the new space with the launch of a vintage furniture pop-up.

The resale shop Vintage Reston will initially open at 11426 Washington Plaza West, next door to the brewery, at Lake Anne Plaza this Saturday, Aug. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 23 from 2-6 p.m.


Around Town

The founder of Old Town Books in Alexandria is starting a new chapter as the owner of a literary-inspired ice cream shop set to open in Fort Hunt next year.

Fabled Ice Cream — a small-batch brand that longtime Fort Hunt resident Ally Kirkpatrick launched last summer — will open at 7940 Fort Hunt Road in the Hollin Hall Shopping Center.


Event

When there’s a chill in the air, nothing satisfies like a rich Cabernet, a velvety Merlot, a smoky Syrah, or a brambly Shiraz. So put down your garden rake (the leaves can wait) and head to Arrowine to sample 20 of the Best Bargains in Big, Bold Reds from California, Washington State, and beyond.

We have spent the last two months tasting well over 200 wines and selected the top 20 for you to enjoy during this event. All of these wines overperformed and have exceptional price-to-quality value ratios. We know you will be impressed with our selections.


News

A pair of high-rise office buildings near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons has changed hands with pending redevelopment plans unrealized.

The Highline at Greensboro District offices at 8401 and 8405 Greensboro Drive were acquired Tuesday (Aug. 18) for $77.5 million by Finmarc Management, a Bethesda-based commercial real estate firm that specializes in picking up and revitalizing properties it views as under performing their potential.


News

Congressional Democrats representing Northern Virginia are launching an investigation into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents’ conduct after an officer pointed a gun at a local woman in a Bailey’s Crossroads parking lot last week.

Reps. Don Beyer (D-8) and Suhas Subramanyam (D-10) announced the investigation yesterday (Wednesday) on Capitol Hill after meeting with Carolina Molina, a Loudoun County resident who filmed her encounter with ICE.


News

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) board members agreed yesterday (Wednesday) to add $15.5 billion to the authority’s capital spending budget for planned improvements to Dulles International Airport.

MWAA officials also sketched out the anticipated timing and cost of individual components of the improvement plan, which had been pushed as a priority by President Donald Trump.


Countywide
A pair of fawns in the woods at Wildwood Park in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Victim of Fatal I-495 Crash Identified — Virginia State Police have identified the Toyota Camry driver killed in a two-vehicle crash on I-495 south of Braddock Road on Sunday (Aug. 15) as 68-year-old Hung Nhu Ong of Fairfax. The driver of a BMW in the crash, a 22-year-old man from Annandale, has been charged with driving under the influence. [DC News Now]

Governor Touts $2B Revenue Increase — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday highlighted Virginia’s financial wins in the fiscal year that ended in July,” including a $2.1 billion increase in general revenue funds and projections of an additional $600 million from a new energy consumption tax on data centers. The governor also acknowledged “significant impacts from federal shifts … most notably a loss of 43,600 jobs.” [Virginia Mercury]

Scrutiny of Flock Cameras Builds — “A nationwide debate over police surveillance technology has landed in the Washington region, as lawsuits, a looming Fairfax County protest and new state law collide over automated license plate readers, which are AI-powered cameras capable of tracking a vehicle’s movements.” [WUSA9]

A Look Inside New Skyview High School — “Fairfax County Public Schools didn’t have to start from scratch. The district acquired the building from the King Abdullah Academy, then spent about a year transforming it into a public high school. Now, Skyview is ready for students, with specialized spaces focused on aerospace, technology and robotics.” [WUSA9]

Packed House for Data Center Meeting — “Residents from eight ZIP codes packed a room in Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library Saturday (Aug. 15) to discuss concerns with the Plaza 500 data center plans just outside Alexandria city limits.” The Fairfax County Planning Commission is slated to hold a public hearing on an electrical substation to power the project on Sept. 24. [ALXnow]

Medicaid Eligibility Changes Coming — “Starting Oct. 1, 2026, Medicaid will have eligibility changes for non-citizen adults. Our Department of Family Services is committed to working to ensure that current Medicaid enrollees are aware of these changes and their impact.” The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services is contacting individuals who could be affected by mail this month. [Fairfax County Government]

Funding Challenging for Volunteer Fire Departments — “There’s a financial crisis happening in many volunteer firehouses across the state: The costs of fire engines and other equipment have skyrocketed and the number of emergency calls has increased, while state funding has remained largely flat and funding from localities often can’t stretch to fill the gap.” [Cardinal News]

New Art Exhibit Planned at Reston Gallery — “Animals, plants and landscapes encountered by artist Rosemarie Forsythe in Virginia and around the world will be featured in a solo exhibition opening Sept. 5 at Reston Art Gallery and Studios. ‘Natural Wonders’ will run through Sept. 27 at the artists’ collective at Lake Anne Plaza.” [Patch]

It’s Thursday — Expect a high near 87°F and increasing clouds. There’s a 60% chance of rain throughout the day, with storms most likely from 3-11 p.m. At night, skies will be mostly cloudy with a low around 69°F. [NWS]

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Around Town

Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 19, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Showers are possible before 2pm, with a chance of thunderstorms by afternoon and likely showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Expect increasing clouds and a high of 86°F, with light southwest winds. There’s a 60% chance of rain, with rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, higher in storms. Thursday night brings likely showers and thunderstorms until 11pm, then a slight chance of showers until 1am, with patchy fog between midnight and 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 68°F and light, variable winds. The chance of precipitation remains at 60%, with similar rainfall amounts. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.