The Washington, D.C. area has developed into the epicenter of a major storm system set to impact the Mid-Atlantic region this afternoon, leading the city to raise a severe weather alert!
The District may face extreme winds, coupled with heavy rain, leading to particularly dangerous road conditions that should not be underestimated.
When is the peak severity of the storm around D.C. going to be?
The District is expected to experience the most severe weather from today’s storm this afternoon and this evening, between 3 pm and 6 pm!
However, stormy conditions are likely to continue into the night to a less severe degree.
During the storm’s peak severity window, the D.C. area could experience exceptionally strong gusts of wind maxxing out around 60 to 80 mph.
This will also be the time period where there is the greatest risk of tornadoes, which could pose a genuine risk to the more rural communities in the region, and to a lesser degree, D.C. itself.
An additional concern is that the extreme winds could decimate the region’s blooms, including tulips, daffodils, and cherry blossoms, which would be a major loss, as they generate a significant amount of small-town tourism this time of year.
Is Washington, D.C. going to lose power?
While the District has no intentions of cutting power as a result of the storm, the severity of the storm makes damage to the District’s electric infrastructure a genuine possibility.
In other words, the winds are going to be so strong that even D.C.’s Mayor has put out a statement warning Washingtonians to prepare for a worst-case scenario:
Before the storm:
- Charge phones & essential electronics.
- Secure outdoor items like trash cans or outdoor furniture.
- Identify & prepare a ‘Shelter-In-Place’ location in case of a tornado (the lowest level of your building + away from windows).
During the storm:
- Avoid unnecessary travel.
- Monitor official weather updates for any warnings being issued.
- Seek shelter as advised.
- Never drive through standing water.
After the storm:
- Report non-emergency issues, such as downed trees, to 311.
- Do not approach, touch, or drive over downed powerlines
- Report downed powerlines to Pepco at 1-877-737-2662
