Virginia Nor'Easter Alert: Updates, Wind Gusts, Power Outages

UPDATE 11:57 a.m. (Saturday): Huge sections of the D.C. area remain without power Saturday. WTOP reported as of about midnight on Friday, an estimated 600,000 customers were without power in the region, with Dominion Energy on the Virginia side reporting 192,000 customers without power, the majority of them in Fairfax County. The continued strong winds are also making it tough for crews to safely restore power.

Across Virginia, there were 274,859 without power at the time of this update, according to PowerOutage.US.

It was utter chaos in our area Friday. Arlington County Police reported that they responded to 66 reports of trees down and 17 reports of traffic signal outages. As of Saturday morning, Fairfax County had reported 33 road blockages county-wide. In Prince George's County on the Maryland side of D.C., winds listed the roofs of several buildings at an apartment complex, forcing the entire complex to be evacuated.

In Richmond, a 6-year-old boy was killed when a tree fell on the family's house.

UPDATE 8:19 p.m. (Friday): Around 650,000 people are now without power in the D.C. area. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency.

UPDATE 1:54 p.m. (Friday): Massive effects have been felt in the D.C. area. Amtrak has temporarily suspended routes in the northeast corridor due to "multiple weather related issues." Winds have left 400,000 without power in the D.C. area. And flight at Dulles Airport have been delayed an average of 33 minutes.

Original story:

There have been widespread reports of downed trees in Northern Virginia Friday morning after a Nor'easter swept into the region, sending wind gusts near 70 miles per hour. And we have a long way to go before the damage is fully done.

Authorities are warning people not only of downed trees but of flying projectiles and dangerous weather conditions due to the unusual storm. In fact, the National Weather Service said in a special weather statement that residents should remain in the lower levels of their homes during the storm, and avoid windows. (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Wind speeds could top those that Superstorm Sandy brought to the state in October 2012, forecasters say, which were in the 61 mph range. "Isolated wind gusts could reach 80 mph, particularly at higher elevations west of the Interstate 95 corridor. While the strongest winds will occur between 6 a.m. and noon Friday, gusts from 55 to 65 mph in the afternoon and through Friday night," the weather service says.

Read more:
'Everyone On The Plane Threw Up' On Flight Into Dulles: Report
Video Captures Huge Tree Falling In NoVa

At 7 a.m. the National Weather Service reported wind gusts at Washington Dulles International Airport of 67 mph, Washington Reagan National Airport of 62 mph, Naval Air Station Patuxent River of 66 mph, Joint Force Andrews of 62 mph, and Baltimore/Washington International Marshall Airport of 52 mph.

Strong-to-damaging northwest winds will continue across the region, sustained at 30-40 mph, with gusts of 60 to 70 mph. Isolated wind gusts could reach 80 mph, particularly at higher elevations west of the Interstate 95 corridor. The strongest winds will occur through noon Friday; however, winds will continue to gust from 55-65 MPH this afternoon and continue through tonight.

Many downed trees and power lines are expected during the lengthy storm, which isn't expected to decrease in strength until Sunday afternoon, when wind speeds should drop below 30 mph. The prolonged period of strong winds will knock down power lines and hamper the repair work by utility and tree crews.

Map of National Weather Service wind damage reports through 940a. Coverage is impressive. Tons of trees down. https://t.co/4N8WAR7XIW pic.twitter.com/KGNBybUVi8
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) March 2, 2018

A high wind warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday across the region.

Power outages:

Here are some need-to-know tips and resources in case the power goes out in the storm.

Dominion Power:

• Report a power outage and check the status on an outage.
• Or call 866-366-4357.
• Northern Virginia outage map.
• Outage safety and preparations.
• Outage FAQ.

NOVEC:

• Report power outages.
• Or call 703-335-0500, 888-335-0500.
• Northern Virginia outage map.

Preparation Tips from Dominion Virginia Power and Ready.gov:

• Make a habit of keeping mobile phones and other portable devices charged.
• Keep stock of matches, candles, flashlights and batteries nearby.
• Bookmark our Website (www.dom.com) on your mobile devices so you can easily report and check the status of outages.
• Keep extra water and non-perishable foods on hand.
• If you have access to an OUTSIDE generator, have an electric cord long enough to keep the generator at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
• Make specific plans for how you will avoid driving.

When the power goes out:

• Close off unused rooms to consolidate and retain heat.
• Wear layered clothing and use blankets or sleeping bags to stay warm.
• NEVER use generators, outdoor heating or cooking equipment, such as a grill, camp stove, or a gasoline or propane heater, indoors.

Image: Patch staff