DC Storms Rip Roof Off Church On High School Campus

(Updated 4:43 p.m. Thursday) WASHINGTON, DC — A roof was ripped off St. Aloysius church on the Gonzaga College High School campus due to damaging storms Thursday in Northwest Washington. The DC area saw high winds and heavy rain Thursday morning and into the early afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, most of the DC area saw about a half-inch of rain through noon. Reagan National Airport saw .7 inches, while Arlington was soaked with 1.33 inches.

A Coastal Flood Advisory was issued for the DC area and Baltimore at 2:47 p.m. and is in effect until 8 p.m. Onshore winds and tides are expected to combine to generate flooding of low areas along the shore near the Washington Southwest Waterfront and Alexandria, Virginia.

The storm was intense enough earlier in the day for The National Weather Service to issue a severe thunderstorm warning for the DC area, including several Maryland counties and Baltimore City, at 12:45 p.m. The warning was cancelled around 3 p.m.

There were 60 mph wind gusts possible during the warning period, according to the weather service. Damaging winds may cause trees and large branches to fall, damaging homes and vehicles. Roads may be blocked, and power outages are possible.

Downed trees caused road closures and the rain soaked the streets. Police closed the northbound lanes along DC 295 because of flooding, and all traffic is diverted onto westbound Benning Road. Drivers can also use Pennsylvania Avenue as a detour.

A chance of thunderstorms remains for the rest of the afternoon, although there not expected to be as intense as the storm this morning and early afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the latest from the National Weather Service:

Thursday Afternoon: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 62. West wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers before 8 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 45. West wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a west wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 38. Northwest wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Photos: Amy Kelley