Update: Fairfax Under Tropical Storm, Severe Thunderstorm Watch

UPDATE 6:17 pm. TROPICAL STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

WATCHES/WARNINGS... 
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...NORTHERN BALTIMORE...HARFORD... 
MONTGOMERY...HOWARD...SOUTHERN BALTIMORE...PRINCE GEORGES...ANNE 
ARUNDEL...CHARLES...ST. MARYS...CALVERT...PRINCE 
WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK...FAIRFAX...ARLINGTON/FALLS 
CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA...STAFFORD...SPOTSYLVANIA AND KING GEORGE. 

AS OF 5 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR 
LATITUDE 27.0N...LONGITUDE 77.3W. THIS WAS ABOUT 820 MILES SOUTH 
OF WASHINGTON DC...OR ABOUT 850 MILES SOUTH OF BALTIMORE MD. 
STORM MOTION WAS NNW OR 335 DEGREES AT 14 MPH. STORM INTENSITY 
WAS 115 MPH

FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR 
ALL OF MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE TIDAL  POTOMAC RIVER. 

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE 
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE SPECIFIED  AREAS. 

ALL PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREAS SHOULD REVIEW THEIR PREPAREDNESS 
PLAN AND BE READY TO IMPLEMENT IT SHOULD A WARNING BE ISSUED FOR  THEIR AREA. 

IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS...BE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND 
THE TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL CYCLONE  EVENTS. 

PLEASE CHECK THE LATEST PUBLIC AND MARINE FORECASTS FOR DETAILED 
INFORMATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL HAZARDS. 

Hurricane preparedness tips for before, during and after a storm.

UPDATE 4:30pm. Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 pm for Fairfax County.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast a Flash Flood Watch through this evening for most of the National Capital region, including Fairfax County, as well as a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9 p.m. for Fairfax County. 

Showers and thunderstorms will develop today and be numerous this afternoon into early this evening. A few of these thunderstorms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall. Widespread rainfall amounts of one to two inches can be expected in the Interstate 95 corridor through this evening. However, a band of heavier rainfall, producing rainfall in excess of two inches in just a couple of hours, will be possible. 

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. Residents should monitor weather forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued. 

If there is any possibility of a flash flood: 
-- Move immediately to higher ground.  
-- Do not wait for instructions to move.  
-- Be aware of streams, drainage channels and other areas known to flood suddenly. –  
-- Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.  

Based on the forecast from the National Weather Service, Fairfax County residents could experience minor roadway flooding in the Huntington area and isolated localized roadway flooding in the Belle View/New Alexandria areas. At this time, no structural flooding in either Huntington or Belle View/New Alexandria is anticipated, based on the current forecast of 1-2 inches of rainfall. 

Residents across the county who live in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. Residents in such area may want to take certain precautionary actions, such as moving vehicles to higher ground and moving items out of basements. 

County public works, emergency management and public safety personnel are monitoring the weather and will continue to do so through the evening and overnight and will alert residents should any additional information become available or actions necessary. 

Please note that with all high intensity rainfall, street flooding is possible. Secondary roadways may become impassable due to heavy rain and localized flooding. Motorists are reminded that if you find yourself driving in potential flash flood conditions, never drive through standing water on a roadway. Water may be much deeper than you think, causing your car to stall or even get stuck in hidden debris.

It's rained most of the day in McLean with heavy downpours at times. The flowers love it.

UPDATE 10:23 AM. FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT IN FAIRFAX.

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY...AND BE NUMEROUS TO WIDESPREAD THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. A FEW OF  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL. 

WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR THROUGH THIS EVENING.

HOWEVER...A BAND OF HEAVIER RAINFALL...PRODUCING RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF TWO  INCHES IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS...WILL BE POSSIBLE. 

ORIGINAL STORY: Hurricane Irene, a Category 3 Hurricane, is currently tracking to arrive along the eastern shore of Virginia. If it maintains this course the main threat to Fairfax County will be heavy rain (approximately 1-3 inches) and a tidal surge Saturday night into Sunday morning, according Fairfax County officials.

If the storm tracks to the west, Fairfax County may experience more significant impacts to include high winds and more significant rainfall and higher tidal surge. It is still difficult to predict exactly where the storm will track until later in the week, the county said.

What should residents be doing now?
   • Stay tuned to local TV and radio stations for the most current information for their areas.
   • Plan to be self-sustaining for at least three days – have food that doesn’t need refrigeration and one gallon of water per person per day. Have a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio and extra batteries ready in case power goes out so you can hear weather information and instructions from officials.
    • Review your family emergency plan. If you don’t have a plan, get a worksheet at www.ReadyVirginia.gov <http://www.ReadyVirginia.gov>. Click on Make a Plan.

Online Resources

The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) offers many online resources, including a mobile app with emergency information, a directory of crucial phone numbers and more.

In addition, www.readynova.com has a suite of online tools to help residents and business owners prepare emergency plans and kits. Creating a plan for your home or business should take just 15 minutes using this tool. A dozen jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, including Alexandria City and Fairfax County, launched the site with a Department of Homeland Security grant.

OEM will host a live call-in program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, that will focus on what to do in inclement weather and how to put together an emergency supply kit for your car, home or office.

Supplies

The Red Cross recommends having the following items on hand:

·  Water — one gallon per person, per day (3­-day supply for evacuation, 2­-week supply for home)

·  Food — non­perishable, easy ­to ­prepare items; can opener (3-­day supply for evacuation, 2-­week supply for home)

·  Flashlight

·  Battery ­powered or hand­ crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

·  Extra batteries

·  First aid kit

·  Medications (7-­day supply) and medical items

·  Sanitation and personal hygiene items

·  Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)

·  Cellphones with chargers

·  Family and emergency contact information

·  Extra cash

·  Emergency blanket

Communications and Transportation

Cellular phone access was extremely limited in the hours following Tuesday’s earthquake, but many people were still able to send email or text messages. People with land-based phones lines had more luck getting through to people.