Rainfall gives way to flooded roads, bloated waterways around DC area

WASHINGTON — After an onslaught of showers and storms Wednesday night, roads are underwater and waterways are overflowing across the D.C. region. The area is still under a flood warning until 6 a.m. Thursday.

The National Weather Service said some area streams and creeks rose 4 to 7 feet in an hour Wednesday night. Sligo Creek in Takoma Park, Maryland, and Rock Creek in D.C. surpassed their flood stages by around 8:30 p.m., according to the weather service.

Montgomery County officials shut down intersections on parts of Beach Drive and Sligo Creek Parkway because of flooding and stranded vehicles.

In Alexandria, Virginia, Four Mile Run rose from about 4.3 feet at 7:16 p.m. to 10.6 feet at 7:27 p.m., the weather service said.

Residents are urged to stay away from flooded areas.



Here's what Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park looked like on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Here’s what Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park looked like on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP's Dave Dildine reports: "This is Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park. Dangerous situation. Flash Flood Warning." (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP’s Dave Dildine reports: “This is Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park. Dangerous situation. Flash Flood Warning.” (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Ground around the D.C. area is saturated with water from all the recent rain. The National Weather Service has warned residents to watch out for tree toppling. But, it seems even utility poles may be a hazard.  (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO)
Ground around the D.C. area is saturated with water from all the recent rain. The National Weather Service has warned residents to watch out for trees toppling. But, it seems even utility poles may be a hazard. (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO) (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO)
Here's what Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park looked like on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Here’s what Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park looked like on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Broad Branch Road at Rock Creek Park is experiencing flooding Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Broad Branch Road at Rock Creek Park is experiencing flooding Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Ground around the D.C. area is saturated with water from all the recent rain. The National Weather Service has warned residents to watch out for tree toppling. (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO)
Ground around the D.C. area is saturated with water from all the recent rain. The National Weather Service has warned residents to watch out for tree toppling. (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO) (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO)
Flooding can be seen in Old Town, Alexandria, near the Potomac. (WTOP/Melissa Howell) (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO)
The remnants of a high tide in Alexandria, Virginia, along the pier.
The remnants of a high tide in Alexandria, Virginia, along the pier. (WTOP/Melissa Howell)
The high tide in Alexandria left a soggy aftermath. (WTOP/Melissa Howell)
(1/13)
Here's what Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park looked like on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP's Dave Dildine reports: "This is Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park. Dangerous situation. Flash Flood Warning." (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Ground around the D.C. area is saturated with water from all the recent rain. The National Weather Service has warned residents to watch out for tree toppling. But, it seems even utility poles may be a hazard.  (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO)
Here's what Broad Branch Road in Rock Creek Park looked like on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Broad Branch Road at Rock Creek Park is experiencing flooding Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Ground around the D.C. area is saturated with water from all the recent rain. The National Weather Service has warned residents to watch out for tree toppling. (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's Pete Piringer via Twitter @mcfrsPIO)
The remnants of a high tide in Alexandria, Virginia, along the pier.

The weather service is also warning residents of the threat from trees toppling because of the heavily saturated ground from all the recent rain. Trees can fall over with little or no wind in these conditions, the weather service said.

Drivers should stay alert when going through wooded areas for the potential of downed trees.

The area is still recovering from last weekend’s storms that dumped as much as 6 inches of rain on Saturday alone in some parts, and the start of the workweek’s wet weather. The ground is already soaked so the water has no place to go.

Since Saturday, rainfall totals at BWI Marshall Airport add up to 10.78 inches; at Dulles International Airport, a total of 6.34 inches of rain fell upon the area. Reagan National Airport had a total of 5.73 inches of rain since Saturday’s washout.

Montgomery Parks even closed all natural surface trails to the public since excessive rain may create dangerous conditions for park users as well as affect the integrity of the trails. Paved trails remained open.

Current advisories

There is a flood warning until 6 a.m. Thursday for D.C., southeastern Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, and the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria.

The weather service also issued a flood warning for Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties, and Baltimore City in Maryland until 7 a.m. Thursday.

A flood warning is in effect for other parts of Carroll, Howard, northern Montgomery, Frederick and Baltimore counties until 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Traffic and transit

Flooding and downed trees have caused some major problems on local roads.

In D.C., rain and heavy flooding prompted water rescues. On Grant Road and Davenport Street in Northwest, a mail truck overturned into a waterway; D.C. Fire and EMS said the driver is safe. Also, at Grant Road and 27th Street, still in Northwest, two people self-evacuated from a car and sheltered nearby.

The Rock Creek Park area in D.C. is “very hazardous,” according to D.C. Fire and EMS.


D.C. police are also reporting high standing water in Northwest: on Broad Branch Road between Brandywine and 27th streets, and on Canal Road between Arizona Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard.

Multiple water rescues also happened across Montgomery County, Maryland. Below is a list of areas affected by the severe weather in the county.

In Virginia, high water closed multiple roads around Fairfax County. Fairfax County police are regularly updating road closures in the area on their website.

Get the latest traffic report at WTOP’s Traffic page.

Current conditions

Forecast

The region could dry out Thursday and Friday, which are expected to be partly sunny and humid.

Here’s the outlook for the next few days:

  • Thursday: Mostly to partly cloudy and likely rain-free. Highs: Upper 80s.
  • Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs: near 90.
  • Saturday: Mostly cloudy with chances for showers. Highs in upper 80s.

Power outages

See the latest power outages below.

WTOP’s Jennifer Ortiz, Nahal Amouzadeh, Will Vitka, Patrick Roth, Rick Massimo, Teta Alim, Dave Dildine and Melissa Howell contributed to this report.

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