Tag: weather
Public input sought on hazard mitigation plan
A windstorm in 2018 damaged this house in Lake Barcroft. Are you more concerned about severe winter weather or tornados? flash flooding or wildfires? The public is encouraged to take a survey to help policymakers update the 2017 Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Heavy rains and flash flooding predicted
Avoid driving on flooded streets. The National Weather Service predicts hazardous weather in Northern Virginia through Thursday as the remnants of Hurricane Ida pass through. An extended period of heavy rain is expected, beginning late Tuesday and continuing through Thursday morning. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are predicted, with some areas possibly experiencing … Continued
Off the beaten path
Here’s what can happen when a huge amount of rain causes flash flooding. A reader sent this photo of a car in the Upper Long Branch Stream between the cul-de-sacs at 6th Street and Glen Forest Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads.
Funds available for cooling assistance
Monday afternoon in Annandale. Virginia’s Department of Social Services offers funds for cooling assistance to help vulnerable households deal with summer heat waves. To be eligible, at least one household member must be age 60 or older, age 5 or younger, or designated as disabled by Social Security, Medicaid, or the U.S. Department of Veterans … Continued
Major winter storm predicted, starting tomorrow morning
A snowplow in a parking lot by Gallows Road in Annandale in December 2020. The biggest winter storm of the year is headed out way Thursday morning. Three to six inches of snow and about a quarter-inch of ice are predicted for the D.C. metro area, the National Weather Service predicts. [Update: The Fairfax County Health … Continued
Prepare for a snowstorm
January 2019 in Annandale. With the first snowstorm in 2021 headed our way, here’s what you need to know. The National Weather Service is predicting snow three to seven inches of snow on Sunday, a wintry mix on Sunday night, and possibly another one or two inches of snow on Monday.
Salt on roads harms waterways
With wintry weather predicted for Wednesday, it’s a good time to think about the ecological damage caused by using salt on icy roads and driveways. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will introduce a new a Salt Management Strategy Toolkit at a public meeting next month with resources and recommendations for best practices to reduce … Continued
School delayed two hours tomorrow
Due to possible icy road and sidewalk conditions overnight from a refreeze, all Fairfax County public schools and school offices will open two hours late tomorrow, Jan. 8 Central offices will open by 10 a.m. Here’s the status of other school activities: Morning preschool (special education) classes are canceled. Afternoon preschool classes start on their … Continued
VDOT gears up for snow season
Columbia Pike, Annandale, in 2016. With snow in the forecast for this afternoon, here’s what you need to know to stay safe on the roads. And even if it doesn’t amount to much today, we’re likely to see some snow within the next few weeks. The Virginia Department of Transportation stages snow crews 18 to … Continued
Winter road salt pollutes waterways
VDOT crews use salt and plows to clear know off roads. [VDOT] Before the first snowstorm of the season hits, the public is urged to think twice about stocking up on road salt. Salt dumped on roads, sidewalks, and driveways to melt snow and ice seeps into waterways. Too much salt in streams can kill … Continued
Residents urge Dominion to bury power lines
A downed tree hit a power line on Sleepy Hollow Road in 2012. Mason District residents who’ve suffered through several power blackouts in recent months – some lasting days – are urging Dominion Virginia Power to bury power lines as the best way to prevent outages. They expressed frustration at a meeting with Dominion Aug. … Continued
Alexandria to close parts of Holmes Run Trail to fix flood damage
The City of Alexandria will begin restoration of the Holmes Run Trail this week. The trail west of the N. Ripley Street crossing has been closed since the July 8 rainstorm dumped a month’s worth of rain on the area. The storm led to widespread flash flooding and a 12-foot surge in parts of Holmes … Continued
July 8 storm caused at least $14 million in damages in Fairfax County
A box truck was stranded by flooding on Arlington Boulevard near Prosperity Avenue on July 8. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department] The July 8 rainstorm and flash flooding caused at least $14 million in damages to homes, businesses, and roads in Fairfax County, Emergency Management Coordinator Seamus Mooney told the Board of Supervisors July … Continued
Swimming pool damaged by storm remains closed
Sleepy Hollow Recreation Association is eerily quiet on a hot, sunny Saturday. The main swimming pool at the Sleepy Hollow Recreation Association will be closed indefinitely after being flooded by torrential rains on July 8. The storm filled the low-lying pool close to Holmes Run with debris, sand, and silt. It can’t be pumped until … Continued
Flooding damage? File a report with the county
A flooded yard in the Annandale Acres neighborhood. [Carolyn Hunter Freeman] If you’ve suffered property damage due to the heavy rains and flooding on July 8, the Fairfax County Emergency Management Department encourages you to file a report on the Disaster Damage Database. Filing a report is voluntary, but the damage reports could have an … Continued