A major winter storm is headed for the D.C. area, just in time to disrupt holiday travel.
While the snow and ice created by a “bomb cyclone” is expected to stay further west, Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area are in for a downpour, according to the National Weather Service.
(Updated at 5:05 p.m.) An October weekend once filled with fall events is starting to clear out, as Fairfax County braces for Hurricane Ian.
The storm that devastated Florida after making landfall on Wednesday (Sept. 28) is expected to weaken as it heads north, but its rain and winds could still prove dangerous, the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security (DEMS) warns.
Fairfax County is considering making all existing and future development built to lessen flooding risks from huge, 100-year event storms, as opposed to a 10-year storm.
The risk of flooding in the county is rising due to climate change, staff told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors environmental committee late last month. While preventing flooding is impossible, its impact can be mitigated, they said.
Fairfax County and areas nearby are under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch this evening.
The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch earlier today (Monday), cautioning flooding may occur this evening, and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10 p.m.
A Flood Watch has been issued for Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area.
The alert will be in effect from 11 p.m. today (Friday) through 2 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday), according to the National Weather Service, which warns that “excessive” rainfall may lead to flash flooding.
Updated at 2:25 p.m. — The Flood Watch has been extended to 5 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday), per Fairfax County.
Earlier: A Flood Watch is on the horizon for much of the D.C. area, including Fairfax County.
As Fairfax County finalizes its first-ever plan to address the future effects of climate change, community members can see how the phenomenon already affects them with a newly released interactive map.
Launched last week, the climate map depicts heat and flooding data that can be viewed in conjunction with maps of the county’s population and infrastructure, including roads, utilities, and public facilities.
Fairfax County is under a Flood Watch until midnight.
The National Weather Service issued the watch this morning, noting flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible after 3 p.m.
A floodwall in the Belle Haven community could help address Northern Virginia’s flood risk.
A recent study looked at the west bank of the Potomac River from Arlington to Prince William County for solutions to improve resiliency and reduce risks to human health and safety, economic damages, and disruption of critical infrastructure, according to a presentation.
(Updated at 12:55 p.m.) Tornado and storm warnings briefly usurped earlier weather alerts for Fairfax County as the National Weather Service noted potential dangers and hazards across the region.
“Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage homes and vehicles,” NWS said in a Severe Thunderstorm Warning alert. “Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles.”
