Maryland and Virginia saw roadways still flooded on Wednesday after high winds and heavy rain drenched the area on Tuesday, toppling trees, forcing road closures and stranding drivers.
High wind warnings and flood warnings remain in effect in some areas Wednesday morning. Go here for all weather alerts.
Two people were rescued from a car trapped on a flooded street in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, overnight, officials said. Prince George’s County Fire and EMS were called to the water rescue at Water Street at 3:30 a.m. News4's Joseph Olmo saw a vehicle in high water hours later. The car was submerged in the high water flowing over the street. Only its license plate, windows and roof were visible.
In Lanham, seven people had to be pulled from vehicles stranded in high water along Lanham Severn Road, just south of Greenbelt Road, after water from Folly Branch flooded the street, according to the Prince George's County fire department. Lanham Severn Road was closed in both directions between Greenbelt Road and Green Haven Road.
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In Beltsville, rescue crews responded to reports of a man stuck in floodwaters along Baltimore Avenue. Firefighters said a good Samaritan pulled the man from rising waters but he was unresponsive. Crews performed CPR on him as they rushed him to a hospital. No information on his condition was released. Prince George’s County police are investigating.
Emergency crews had to rescue multiple people from high water in Prince William County – in some cases because drivers ignored road closure signs.
“The closures we had this morning, I believe they were both posted with signs: ‘Road closed. High water.’ People ignored those warnings, continued in,” Assistant Fire Chief Matt Smolsky told News4.
Several roads in Fairfax County were closed due to flooding, police said Tuesday afternoon; see a list here.
Beach Drive in Kensington, Maryland, was also flooded. Part of the street near Connecticut Avenue was impossible to see underneath the water. At one point, firefighters were called in to help people trapped in a vehicle. They were brought out safely and no one was taken for medical care, officials said.
Remember to never, ever drive on a flooded road. Turn around, don't drown!
A tree fell across Conifer Lane in Kensington, where Montgomery County fire crews and PEPCO utility crews were called around 4:45 p.m. No injuries were reported, but the tree damaged a parked car.
At the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, police halted traffic in both directions on both spans due to the high winds Tuesday evening. Gusts reached up to 80 mph. It reopened under limited wind restrictions before 9 p.m. Traffic was also paused at the Nice Bridge between Charles County, Maryland, and King George County Virginia.
Rain totals
The rain fell on already saturated soil Tuesday evening, and the wind toppled some trees and power lines. Though rain tapered off just before sunrise on Wednesday, the gusty winds remained.
Tuesday's rain and wind were for the record books. Rain totals were well over 2 inches and peak wind gusts at airports were about 50 mph.
- Reagan National Airport: 2.24 inches of rain and 52 mph peak wind gust
- Dulles Airport: 1.76 inches of rain and 50 mph peak wind gust
- BWI: 2.62 inches of rain and 48 mph peak wind gust
- Annapolis: 2.23 inches and 50 mph peak wind gust
D.C. has now gotten nearly 10 inches of rain since Dec. 1, leaving the ground waterlogged.
School delays and closures
Several schools in Maryland and Virginia will open late on Wednesday due to the storm.
The following Maryland schools will open late or be closed:
- Bowie State University will be closed.
- Howard County Public Schools will open two hours late.
- University of Maryland College Park will open at 10 a.m.
The following Virginia schools will open two hours late:
- Fauquier County Public Schools
- Fredericksburg City Schools
- King George County Schools
- Orange County Public Schools
- Page County Public Schools
- Spotsylvania County Public Schools
- Stafford County Public Schools
