Isaias Soaks VA: 120K Without Power; Street Flooding Subsides

Michael O'Connell
Updated ·6 min read

VIRGINIA — More than 120,000 Virginians were still without power late Tuesday night as Tropical Storm Isaias made its way out of the DC-Virginia region and aimed for the Northeast. As storm clouds left the region, residents dealt with downed trees and flooded streets in some areas.

The storm headed up the coast to the northeastern U.S. and southern Canada, according to the National Hurricane Center. At 2 p.m., the storm was about 65 miles west of New York City, where high winds caused some building collapses and damage in the city.

The majority of power outages centered around the tidewater area and along the Chesapeake Bay, with Mathews, Northumberland, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Southampton and Northampton counties reporting the highest percentage of outages.

In total, 210,540 customers in Virginia were reported to be without power, as of 4:23 p.m. By midnight, the total number of outages in the Commonwealth was 122,324.

Isaias moved north-northeast at near 28 miles per hour at about 5 a.m. Tuesday, according to NHC, and its winds and rain passed over the Washington, D.C., area mid-morning. Maximum sustained winds were reported near 70 mph with higher gusts.

Norfolk was one of the hardest hit areas of Virginia. The strong winds of Isaias knocked down trees and limbs. First Baptist Church in Norfolk was badly damaged by the storm's winds, according to reports.

Heavy damage was also reported in Suffolk, where a possible tornado touched down in the the downtown area in the early morning hours Tuesday.

Isaias dropped heavy rainfall over the region on Tuesday. Areas east of I-95, especially those regions close to the Chesapeake Bay, felt tropical-storm-force wind gusts, topping 40 mph.

Initial data from the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang showed the rainfall and peak wind gusts were higher away from the immediate D.C. region in areas around the Chesapeake Bay and lower Potomac River.

A flash flood watch is in effect for the region through 11 p.m. Tuesday. The heavy rainfall could cause small creeks and streams to become dangerous rivers and lead to downed trees and power outages.

Washington, D.C., is under a flood warning until 5:30 p.m.

On Friday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in advance of Isaias.

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Fairfax County at 3:28 p.m. Some areas that saw flooding included Vienna, Oakton, Tysons Corner, Wolf Trap, Great Falls and Belleview.

The storm caused some flooding of roads in the area and a possible tornado in the Northern Neck. Two people were reportedly injured by the tornado that also severely damaged several homes near White Stone in Lancaster County, according to reports.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a swift water rescue call in Annandale. The fire department says a vehicle got stuck in the water, but the driver escaped before units arrived.

Arlington County’s COVID-19 sample collection sites at 1429 N. Quincy Street and Arlington Mill Community Center were closed Tuesday due to the storm. Alternative sample collection sites can be found at arlingtonva.us/covid-19.

WMATA reopened the Cleveland Park Metro Station at 1:35 p.m., on Tuesday. It had been closed earlier in the day, due to a history of flooding in the area, according to WTOP. WMATA also closed the King Street Station in Alexandria for potential high water Tuesday morning.

Manassas Line train 328 of the Virginia Railway Express collided with a tree on the track, according to WTOP, causing delays on that line for both trains 328 and 330. Riders on the MARC Camden Line can also expect weather-related delays on CSX.

High water also hampered travel for commuters on local roads. Commuters southbound on I-295 were diverted to the Malcolm X Avenue exit ramp to avoid standing water, WTOP reported. Also, eastbound travelers on I-66 in Virginia encountered standing water in lefthand lane prior to US-50/Fairfax (Exit 57).

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management urged residents to prepare homes for the severe weather. Here are the preparation steps:

  • Clear debris from storm drains and clean your gutters.

  • Put your trash can in the garbage or secure your complex's dumpster by fastening door latches.

  • Remove or secure anything from your yard that can become a projectile from damaging winds: swing set, grill, lawn or patio furniture, umbrellas, bird feeder, wind chime, planters, trampolines, and hanging baskets.

  • Prune dead tree branches.

  • In your garage or shed, move pesticides, cleaning chemicals, and motor fuels as high off the ground as possible in the event flash flooding occurs.

  • Know how to report a power outage to your provider and have that information easily accessible. Much of Northern Virginia is covered by Dominion Energy, where outages can be reported at 866-366-4357 or www.dominionenergy.com/outages. Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative customers can report outages to 703-335-0500, 1-888-335-0500 or www.novec.com.

  • Have emergency supplies to sustain your household and build a communication plan: VAemergency.gov/emergency-kit.

  • Prepare an emergency plan for your family: www.ready.gov/plan.

  • Keep a battery-powered radio to follow weather updates.

  • Keep your phone charged and get a charging device that doesn't require electricity.

  • Keep a list of important phone numbers handy.

Virginia residents were also advised to follow the Virginia Department of Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook, as well as the Baltimore-Washington National Weather Service office for the latest weather forecast, advisories, watches or warnings.

Patch is tracking every move of Tropical Storm Isaias. Get all the updates on the storm by subscribing to Patch's free breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.

Additional information on hurricane preparation is available at ready.gov/hurricanes.

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This article originally appeared on the Arlington Patch