Skies look sunny where FFXnow is working in Vienna, as of press time, but the National Weather Service thinks that could change fast this evening.
The NWS has issued a Tornado Watch for Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. region. Scheduled to stay in effect until 10 p.m. today (Wednesday), the alert replaces a Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued earlier this afternoon.
A Tornado Watch and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued earlier today (Monday) for Fairfax County have been canceled or expired, but an Areal Flood Warning is now in effect until 6:30 p.m.
“Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring,” the 3:33 p.m. alert said. “Streams continue to rise due to excess runoff from earlier rainfall. Low-water crossings are inundated with water and may not be passable.”
Settle in for a potentially stormy night as Debby, now a tropical depression, is expected to reach the mid-Atlantic region.
The National Weather Service has issued Tornado Watch for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, in anticipation of the storm, which first made landfall in Florida as a hurricane on Monday (Aug. 5). Fairfax County also faces a Flood Watch and a Coastal Flood Advisory.
(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.”
