DC region under flood warning, some roadways impacted 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 1 p.m. in Prince George’s and Charles counties, and 11:45 a.m. in Carroll and Frederick counties in Maryland. In Northern Virginia, a flood warning is in effect until 1 p.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
Wind gusts will reach 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 Tuesday evening, which prompted the Maryland Transportation Authority to stop traffic on the bridge for about four hours.
Impact from Tuesday’s weather
Tuesday’s massive storms caused major flooding across the D.C. area.
As of Wednesday morning, 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 are 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 because drivers didn’t know 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 described flooded grassy areas that look like lakes in Fairfax County.
WTOP Traffic reports that there is flooding on small roads near waterways in Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland.
Police in Prince William County told WTOP that they have had to rescue drivers that have accidentally driven too far into flooded roadways, including Fleetwood Drive, Piper Lane and Aiden Road. Police Chief Peter Newsham reminds drivers to “turn around, don’t drown.”
In the District, the Northeast Boundary Tunnel, a new tunnel that was built in September to prevent the kind of flooding on Rhode Island Avenue that killed 10 dogs at District Dogs in August, worked as it was supposed to. The Northeast Boundary Tunnel is connected to the Anacostia River Tunnel system, and the amount of rain resulted in an 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.
Metro said that there was single tracking between Van Dorn Street and Braddock Road stations because of the flooding that took place on a track between King Street and Van Dorn Street stations.
Also, there are delays for MARC trains due to “flash flood related speed restrictions.”
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
Check our list of other closings and delays in the region.
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.