DC region under flood warning and wind alert after Tuesday’s drenching rain
A flood warning is still in effect in the D.C. region through Wednesday morning after Tuesday’s heavy rain and winds caused flooding, power outages and major roadway closures. Here’s what you need to know.
The National Weather Service said that a flood warning is in effect until 10 a.m. in parts of Maryland, including Prince George’s, Carroll and Frederick counties. In Northern Virginia, a flood warning is in effect in Loudoun County until 9 a.m.
Behind a strong frontal system, flooding continues around rivers, creeks & small streams. Otherwise, today will bring cool/blustery conditions, with snow showers along the Alleghenies. Another impactful system moves into the area by Fri. #MDwx #VAwx #DCwx #WVwx pic.twitter.com/E4YqTsHCUl
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 10, 2024
Also, the area is under a wind alert as wind gusts will be up 30 to 40 mph in the District, according to 7News First Alert meteorologist Eileen Whelan.
“The wind will be the worst around 1 p.m. with diminishing winds by the evening. Wind chills will be in the 30s for much of the day,” Whelan said.
Currently, both the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Nice-Middleton Bridge are under wind warnings. This means sustained winds between 30-39 mph are impacting the bridge. There are no vehicle restrictions.
Wind gusts at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge reached 80 mph on Wednesday evening, which prompted the Maryland Transportation Authority to stop traffic on the bridge for about four hours.
Impacts from Tuesday’s weather
Tuesday’s massive storms caused major flooding across the D.C. area.
In Annapolis, WTOP’s Luke Lukert reported that there are still a number of businesses under several feet of water, even as the floodwater is slowly starting to recede. This is the third worst flooding in the city’s history and the worst in over 20 years, according to flood data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In Loudoun County, the rain and wind is affecting the morning commute. WTOP’s Neal Augenstein reported that Shreve Mill Road in Leesburg — which floods often because there’s a stream underneath it — is shut down because of the floods.
He witnessed several cars turn around without knowing that part of the road was washed out.
“It helps make the case for leaving a bit early so you can shift to plan B if needed,” said Augenstein.
He also added that there are flooded grassy areas that look like lakes in Fairfax County.
WTOP Traffic reports that there’s flooding on small roads near waterways in Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland.
In the District, the Northeast Boundary Tunnel, which is connected to the Anacostia River Tunnel system, worked as it was supposed to. However, there was overflow into the Anacostia River, according to John Lisle, vice president of communications at D.C. Water.
“Having the tunnel system and operation really served its dual purposes: one, to help mitigate flooding and hopefully prevent flooding in neighborhoods, but also to prevent millions of gallons of combined sewage from reaching the Anacostia River,” Lisle told WTOP. He said that small amount of overflow into the river on Tuesday night is rare.
The new tunnel was built in September which was aimed to prevent flooding along and around Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast where high water killed 10 dogs at District Dogs in August.
Closures
School districts and colleges across the WTOP listening area will have either a later start to the school day or a closure on Wednesday. The local courts in Prince George’s County, Maryland, have also delayed their openings.
Maryland
The following school districts announced they’ll operate on a two-hour delay Wednesday morning:
- Anne Arundel County Public Schools
- Howard County Public Schools
The following colleges announced they’ll be either closed or have a later opening Wednesday morning:
- Anne Arundel Community College (open at 10 a.m.)
- Bowie State University (closed)
Virginia
The following school districts announced they’ll operate on a two-hour delay Wednesday morning:
- Culpeper County Public Schools
- Fauquier County Public Schools
- Fredericksburg City Public Schools
- Spotsylvania County Public Schools
- Stafford County Public Schools
Forecast
WEDNESDAY: WIND ALERT
Partly to mostly cloudy
Highs: 45-50
Winds: West Southwest 15-25 mph, Gusts to 40 mph
WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
Mainly clear
Lows: 25-35
Winds: Light
Thursday:
Mostly sunny
Highs: Low 50s
Winds: Southwest 5-10 mph
FRIDAY:
Increasing clouds, rain develops late afternoon/evening
Highs: Upper 40s
Winds: Southeast 5-10 mph
Current conditions
WTOP’s Tadiwos Abedje, Neal Augenstein and Luke Lukert contributed to this story.