Results tagged “weather”

It's likely to rain tonight, and probably every evening this weekend. The National Weather Service has gone ahead and issued a Flash Flood Watch for the greater metro area from 2 p.m. to midnight tonight, thanks to already-wet soil poised to meet heavy, sudden rainfall again this evening. The Capital Weather Gang explains that this low pressure system actually has nothing to with Danny, though.

Hurricane Bill may have kicked off the 2009 storm season down south, but it looks like Tropical Storm Danny will be the first storm to pay us a little visit this year. The graphic above from the National Weather Service shows Danny making its way up the Atlantic coastline, bringing some wet weather to D.C. in just about two to three short days. If we're reading this correctly, there's only a 10-20% chance of Danny picking up enough speed to turn into a hurricane, according to this map, and D.C. will most likely feel only the outer edges of the storm, so we're not exactly looking at another Isabel. The Capital Weather Gang describes the storm predictions as pretty uncertain at this point, but notes that however strong it gets, the worst of it will likely stay offshore.

As I write this from the (thankfully under cover) RFK Stadium press box, a veritable soaking is coming down over the field -- and it's been like this for some time, as anyone with access to a window or who has been outside can attest to. The District is currently under a flash flood watch (as we noted this morning), and there is also a severe thunderstorm watch for a sizable area south and east of Washington. If you're getting off to a late start to tonight's sporting action or driving for any reason what so ever, be sure to take things very slowly.

Some welcome relief from the heat comes from D.C.'s Department of Parks and Recreation, which announced many city pools and spray parks are extending their hours through Wednesday night. Thirteen outdoor pools are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the next three evenings, and other facilities are open later as well. Check the full list extended hours for the DPR facility nearest you.

The D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency has issued a Heat Alert for today, while the National Weather Service prefers to call its recommendation a Heat Advisory. Whatever you call it, it's hot as balls out there, and it's only going to get hotter — highs are expected to reach 100° at some point today, with the heat index making it feel like 105°.

An inferno in Northeast. A tornado in Frederick County. A tree on I-66. Also a vehicular fire on I-66. And a copperhead in a courtroom! May you live in interesting times, says the ancient Chinese curse. A relatively cool July ended on an interesting note: The Washington Post reports that 5 days since July 22 saw the temperature climb above 90, while fierce but brief squalls have been the regular matinee feature. Finally, soggy June and cool July are giving way to a more typical August, says the Capital Weather Gang: a warm, sticky, muggy, humid August. .

Just in case you don't have a window, the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch that began at 1:20 p.m. and will last until 9 p.m. Along with the rain, we could see large hail, strong winds and lightning. Plus, added bonus: a slight chance of a tornado! Despite the 9 p.m. ceiling, the Capital Weather Gang thinks the shower and storm threat could be over by early evening. UPDATE 2:18 p.m. Northeast D.C. just got upgraded to Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 2:45 p.m., with 60 mph wind gusts possible.

Pepco reports that nearly 500 customers in their service area -- a large concentration of which are in Northeast D.C. -- are still without power this morning after last night's lengthy storm. In their usual "weather was bad, eh!" report this morning, the Post notes that at a minimum, 28,000 homes and businesses lost power overnight. To think: without electricity, you wouldn't have been able to watch ESPNNEWS on repeat for three hours waiting for the Nationals game to resume play on MASN! (Wait, just me? Never mind, then.) Considering this upcoming forecast, this probably won't be the last time Pepco technicians will be out and about fixing large power outages due to thunderstorms this week.

Metro says that all its stations, including Takoma, are open today: yay. On the other hand, Metro also says that things will be slow moving as trains make their way through the accident area: less yay, but not unexpected. The folks who run the trains say that those using the Red Line today should likely factor in an extra 30 minutes or more to get where they're going -- but one could make the argument that, at this point, Metro riders should be used to that diagnosis, nearly a month out from the Red Line crash. Our thoughts? It's a blissful 74 degrees at this moment -- walking or biking to your destination, if you can, sounds like a pretty good idea.

Not that you're reading this, because you're out enjoying this sublime weather I have the duty to record, but look, the weather's really nice outside! You don't need the Capital Weather Gang to tell you that the sun is out, the humidity is low, and the temperature is hovering right around a universally enjoyable 85 degrees. You might even need to don a jacket this evening! But you should listen up about the dread Bermuda High arriving on Monday. The CWG calls it "juicy" and says it's going to mean a week's worth of rain at bare minimum. For the next week we'll be paying for a rather dry July, so get outside and play today and tomorrow.

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 5 p.m. this evening. Some of the intense storm activity that could pop up midday today includes hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter, wind gusts up to 70 mph, and lightning. Capital Weather Gang finds the silver lining: "... the cold front causing the storm threat should clear out all this muggy air. We'll feel much more comfortable for the weekend, before shower chances return early next week." Works for us.

Sunday's heavenly sunshine and cool breezes may have helped push last week's endless thunderstorms into the backs of our minds, but WTOP's Kristi King reminds us that this spring's increased rainfall will have lasting effects in form of incessant mosquitoes. King quotes Mosquito Control Program Manager for the Maryland Department of Agriculture Mike Cantwell as noting that the D.C. metro area is in store for increased mosquito activity this season in the evenings, nights and early mornings, and even more fun, later in the summer we should get even more of those annoying daytime tiger mosquitoes. Highly unscientific anecdotal evidence gathered at DCist HQ shows that the number of mosquito bites received by staffers thus far in the month of June far exceeds the same period last year. How pesky are you finding the city's skeeters this year?

Oh yeah, there's another severe thunderstorm watch from the National Weather Service in effect, this time until 8 p.m. There's also another flash flood watch that will last until the wee hours of the morning on Friday. But you knew that already. Because these storms won't ever. effing. stop.

Looks like we've got round two of this morning's crazy storms heading our way. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m., along with a flash flood watch until 11 p.m. for the D.C. metro area. The current estimate is that this storm activity will get going in full force by about 5 p.m., so hold on to your hats on those evening commutes, and seriously, don't attempt to drive through flooded roadways. Also watch out for potentially pretty sizable hail.

The barely six-month old Capitol Visitor Center experienced a drainage system failure last night thanks to several days of strong storms, leading to a flooded hallway, the Post reports. The incident is described as not having caused significant damage, but it's not exactly a great sign that storm drain equipment is already failing in the massive (and massively overbudget) $621 million underground facility. The center is open as normal today, as the flooding occurred in an area of the structure that is not part of the visitor tour.

The last 48 hours have been rather calamitous, even by D.C. standards. It started with the rain, torrential rain, many inches of it, which snarled traffic all over, and stranded three drivers in flooded roads in D.C. today and three in Beltsville last night. Flash flood warnings have been extended to tomorrow morning. This morning, a manhole fire on Harvard Street cut power for about 1,600 customers, disrupted traffic lights on Sherman Aavenue and forced the closure of part of Georgia Avenue. Wind gusts toppled trees, which closed roads, including a section of the southbound George Washington Parkway at Roosevelt Island. Until recently, police were directing traffic away from 14th and S streets NW because of a fire.

Here at DCist Storm Command Central, we're about 15 minutes away from declaring this last week an official Deluge '09 Event (loyal readers may recall the previous incarnation of this designation, Deluge '06). The latest press release from the District Department of Transportation is really pushing this decision over the top. Could Davy DCist be on his way down to DCist HQ? Check back in later to find out.

Flickr user Beck Exposed, a.k.a. Capitol Hill resident Sarah Becker, sent us this photo of the hail that pummeled her front stoop for about five minutes around 11:30 a.m. Anybody else spot some hail? These thunderstorms the last couple of days have been pretty impressive, if not a little bit freaky. How can we have hail when it's 50 degrees out?

With no relief in sight from today's downpour, the Nationals have gone ahead and postponed their second home game of the season tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies. The make-up date has yet to be announced, so there won't be a double header tomorrow. Ticket holders for tonight's game should keep their tickets, which may be used either for the TBA rescheduled game, or in exchange for tickets for the same priced seat at any future 2009 Nationals home game, excluding the June series against the Boston Red Sox. Thursday night's game is still on, set for 7:05 p.m.

There's a ton of stories this morning about some bright flashes of light and booming noises coming from the skies over eastern Virginia, parts of Maryland and North Carolina. The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that the National Weather Service’s Wakefield station's phone was "ringing off the hook" last night after around 9:45 p.m., as residents frantically called in to report flashing, bright lights and in some places, an explosion-like sound. No immediate explanation came from the NWS, but a team is now investigating what might have caused the fiery flashes. WTOP has a report that suggests that the phenomenon was most likely a fireball, which can occur when a piece of meteor rock enters the Earth's atmosphere.

            

Images from around the city of this morning's storm are piling up in the DCist Flickr pool as quickly as the snow outside. Don't forget to add yours!

D.C. Wire's Nikita Stewart reports from the D.C. Council's legislative session that the Council has unanimously approved emergency legislation to require drivers to remove frozen snow and ice from their vehicles. However the bill, introduced by Ward 5's Harry Thomas Jr., was amended to eliminate a $50 fine, instead opting to have police issue drivers a warning. So for the next 90 days, know that if we get another real winter storm and you fail to clear ice and snow from the roof or hood of your vehicle, you could be subject to a stern talking to from a D.C. police officer. Photo by mindgutter.

So says Punxsutawney Phil, who is looking pretty freaked out about being hoisted over his handler's head earlier this morning. Aside from breaking the bad weather news, Phil was apparently pretty happy with the Steelers' victory over the Arizona Cardinals last night. Or else he just wanted to be left alone and burrow back into his hole without being blamed, once again, for the continuation of a long, cold winter.

Last month was something cold, the Washington Post reports—real cold. A full three degrees chillier than normal and probably the coldest January in a decade. It might be difficult to believe today, with the temperature expected to crest a balmy 54 degrees, but the District isn't past the worst of it yet. With ice still lingering from the last frost, the city can look forward to more snow tomorrow evening. Still, with one above-freezing day, February is already looking good in comparison: In January, the temperature only climbed above freezing twice. Sorry, Mr. President, but that's plenty reason to get upset. That's reason to start writing giant solar heat reflecting screens into the stimulus. That's reason to . Those of you looking for "flinty Chicago toughness" should check in with the all-but Siberian Marc Fisher. This is a thread for answering the question: Why did humans settle this far north?

Over 130 DCist readers say they slipped and fell on a patch of ice today. President Obama thinks this is funny. But it's no laughing matter to Davy DCist.

UPDATE: Politico has video of the President's comments. We've posted them above.

Ice! It's everywhere today. 'Fess up if it caused you to have an ungraceful encounter with the ground on your way in to work this morning.