Update — More than 10,000 Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County have lost power as thunderstorms sweep through the D.C. region.
As of 7:20 p.m., the outages appear to be concentrated in the south central part of the county, from Newington up to the Falls Church area, according to the utility’s outage map.
Earlier: As predicted, a storm is darkening the skies above Fairfax County, bringing potentially dangerous levels of rain.
The National Weather Service has issued several alerts for the D.C. region, including Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, a Flood Watch and, for some areas, a Flash Flood Warning.
The Flash Flood Warning applies to northeastern Fairfax County and will be in effect until 8:45 p.m. Storms that were spotted moving into the area from Sterling could drop rain at a rate of 2 inches in 20 minutes, the NWS said.
“Rain may have not started, but expected rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches in 20 minutes are anticipated,” the weather service said in the alert, which went out shortly before 5:45 p.m. “Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”
The full alert is below:
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED Flash Flood Warning National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 544 PM EDT Wed Jul 9 2025
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for…District of Columbia…South Central Montgomery County in central Maryland…Arlington County in northern Virginia…Northeastern Fairfax County in northern Virginia…The City of Alexandria in northern Virginia…The City of Falls Church in northern Virginia…
* Until 845 PM EDT.
* At 544 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain will move across the warned area. Rain may have not started, but expected rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches in 20 minutes are anticipated. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE…Radar.
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… Alexandria… Bethesda… Annandale… Springfield… Fort Washington… Fort Hunt… Vienna… Groveton… Falls Church… Huntington… Coral Hills… Mantua… Fort Belvoir… Pimmit Hills… National Harbor… Rosslyn… Crystal City… Mclean… Reagan National Airport…
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was also issued at 6:08 p.m. specifically for southeastern Fairfax County, along with parts of Alexandria, Prince George’s County and Charles County in Maryland.
Currently slated to stay in place until 7 p.m., the warning was prompted by a line of severe storms spotted on radar at 6:08 p.m. from Springfield down to Quantico. According to the National Weather Service, the storms were moving east at 20 mph and bringing 60 mph wind gusts.
More from the alert:
IMPACT…Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage homes and vehicles. Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles.
* Locations impacted include… Alexandria, Waldorf, Clinton, Springfield, Fort Washington, Fort Hunt, Groveton, Huntington, La Plata, Fort Belvoir, National Harbor, Port Tobacco River, Andrews Air Force Base, Camp Springs, Lorton, Franconia, Oxon Hill, Hybla Valley, Newington, and Friendly.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
Large hail, damaging wind, and continuous cloud to ground lightning are occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature’s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is slated to stay in effect for the entire D.C. region until 10 p.m., and the Flood Watch will remain until midnight.