Severe Thunderstorms Cause Chaos in D.C. Region
Major roads were closed, trees were down, and power outages were widespread in the D.C. region on Sunday after violent thunderstorms struck the area on Saturday.
The storms, which caused road blockages and trees to fall on homes in Northern Virginia and elsewhere, tragically resulted in the death of a man in Prince William County, according to authorities.
The severe weather, fueled by extreme heat and humidity, a strong cold front, and a disturbance high in the atmosphere, pummeled the Beltway region on Saturday afternoon, bringing torrential rain and winds exceeding 80 mph.
The downpour hit the District from the west shortly after the temperature reached 96 degrees for the second consecutive day, marking the highest reading in the city so far this year.
Although the storm didn’t contain tornadoes or meet the criteria for a derecho, its high winds had a devastating impact. The strong gusts dislodged chimneys, tore down signs, peeled off roofs, and toppled trees onto buildings and cars.
Many major roads were temporarily compromised, with reports of trees down on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Prince George’s County, Interstate 95 near Dumfries in Prince William County, the Capital Beltway, the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Fairfax County, and Interstate 66 in Arlington County.
The storm also left more than 200,000 customers without power. As of Sunday morning, approximately 15,000 customers remained without power in D.C. and Maryland, while more than 7,000 were still affected in Northern Virginia.
Tragically, Prince William County police announced on Saturday evening that they were investigating the death of a 43-year-old man in the 15300 block of Holly Hill Drive. The man was killed after a tree fell on his home. The cause of death has not been confirmed, and no further information has been released.
The northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, from Spout Run Parkway to the Capital Beltway, had to be closed as crews worked to remove fallen trees from the roadway. The National Park Service, which manages the parkway, said the closure would remain in place until an assessment had been completed and all hazardous trees removed. Numerous trees were also reported downed in the Clara Barton Parkway area.
The storm even affected the National Zoo, which announced that it would be closed on Sunday for cleanup due to debris from the storm.
The D.C. Fire and EMS Department reported an extraordinary volume of calls, responding to 810 incidents on Saturday and Sunday, many of which were storm-related. The agency took to Twitter to express their surprise at the unusually high number of calls, stating, “First time in memory we exceeded 800 calls.”
Authorities have advised residents to stay cautious as crews continue to clean up and restore power in the aftermath of the destructive storm. This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.