Possibly Damaging Storms Headed to Burke Thursday

A large line of storms that has spawned tornadoes and knocked out power in the Midwest is headed to Northern Virginia—but forecasters are still unsure if our area will see a derecho like last June.

Regardless of the type of storm, the DC area is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch by the National Weather Service until 11 a.m. for the first round. The area is under a Flash Flood Watch until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. 

The massive storm systems will sweep through the DC area in a one-two punch: one Thursday morning and another, more severe storm in the late afternoon and early evening.

The National Weather Service issued this warning Thursday morning for our region:

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND A FEW TORNADOES OVER PARTS OF THE MID ATLANTIC STATES TODAY.

Preparing for the stormy weather, federal offices are open Thursday, but the Office of Personnel Management is giving federal workers the option to take unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.

The pending weather could impact transportation:

• Metro
• Airlines could delay flights. Check FlightStats here for any delays or cancellations.
• Amtrak will list any service disruptions here.
• Check Virginia roadways here.
• Stay with Patch for additional information about any road closures and power outages throughout the day. 

What time will Northern Virginia see storms Thursday?

NBC-4 meteorologist Tom Tom Kierein said Thursday morning there is a 90 percent chance the area will get hit by thunderstorms between 8:30-10 a.m. Thursday, and a 100 percent chance of getting hit by a stronger storm between 4-8 p.m. Northern Virginia could see some sunshine between storms, he noted.

The DC area has a "high risk" of damaging winds Thursday afternoon, winds up to 60 miles per hour, flooding and isolated tornados, according to Storm Team 4. 

Power outages

Winds could knock trees onto power lines. Report power outages to Dominion Power; the company has crews standing by in preparation, including contractors. If your power goes out, contact Dominion Virginia Power 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357), TTY 711; NOVEC 1-888-335-0500 or 703-335-0500, TTY 711.

Fairfax County is offering storm preparation advice on its emergency blog including:

• securing loose items outdoors
• clearing storm drains
• powering up cell phones

Follow @fairfaxcounty on Twitter and use #ffxstorm to share what you’re seeing in your neighborhood.

Friday should see lower humidity with highs in the 70s.

Resources:

Northern Virginia Storm Safety: Social Media Accounts to Follow or Fan