Maryland

Power Could Stay Out in Northern Virginia Through Tuesday; Blustery Weather Continues

Blustery conditions will continue Sunday and won't completely calm until Monday, Storm Team4 said

This story is no longer being updated. Check here for the latest updates to the power outages.

Thousands of people were in the dark Sunday after Friday's fierce winds knocked down trees and power lines, causing disruptions that may continue into the work week.

Dominion Energy customers in Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg may not see their lights turn on until 11 p.m. Tuesday, when the utility expects restoration efforts to be finished. More than 60,000 people in that area were without power Sunday morning.

Those living along the Interstate 81 corridor can expect all power to come back by 11 p.m. Sunday, Dominion Energy said.

As of 3:00 p.m. Sunday, about 8,600 Pepco customers were without power and more than 59,000 Dominion Energy customers had no power. More than a quarter of a million people didn't have power early Saturday morning. 

Pepco and Dominion Energy crews were working around the clock to fix utility poles and run new power lines.

Sunday will be another breezy, sunny day and winds may continue to gust up to 30 mph, Storm Team4 said. Storm Team4 says the winds will finally calm on Monday.

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High temperatures will reach into the low 50s, but winds could bring chills in the teens and 20s.

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Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency Friday evening after damaging winds caused power outages, downed trees and dangerous travel conditions across the state. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam also declared a state of emergency to free up all necessary resources to respond to and recover from the effects of the storm.

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In Prince William County, Virginia, the 140-foot Potomac Mills sign is leaning because of the winds, prompting the Virginia Department of Transportation to close all southbound lanes of Interstate 95 at the Prince William Parkway. An engineer will inspect the sign, and the lanes will be reopened if it's determined to be structurally sound. In the meantime, vehicles are being detoured into the express lanes, and tolls will be suspended. The toll suspension will continue into Sunday, according to the Express Lanes Twitter account.

The Harry Nice Bridge, Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge and Francis Scott Key Bridge remained under wind warnings into Saturday afternoon, the Maryland Transportation Authority said. If you have to cross a bridge during high wind — keep your speed down and both hands on the wheel.

Under those warnings, drivers with large vehicles or cargo racks should proceed with caution, the Maryland Transportation Authority said.

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Amtrak service between D.C. and New York city resumed Saturday morning, and service largely returned to normal by Sunday, Amtrak said. Northwest Regional trains from D.C. to Virginia have resumed operating normally.

Most flights from Dulles International, Baltimore-Washington and Reagan National airports are on time, after delays and cancellations during the storm. Check with your airline before heading to the airport.

The historic wind storm blew into the D.C. area overnight Friday. Gusts near 70 mph were reported in parts of Maryland and Virginia, according to the National Weather Service. A high wind warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday.

The strong winds knocked down trees and scattered debris across the area on Friday, prompting a historic response from firefighters and police.

Prince George's County Fire vetted more than 1,000 calls for service Friday, the most the county ever received in a single day. Firefighters in Montgomery County responded to 350 medical and 300 fire emergencies.

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Outside of Richmond, a tree crashed through the roof of a mobile home about 2 a.m. Friday, killing a sleeping 6-year-old boy.

In Baltimore County, a 77-year-old woman was standing outside her home about 12:30 p.m. when a large tree branch struck and killed her, Baltimore County police said.

In James City County, Virginia, a tree fell on a truck about 12:50 p.m., killing a passenger, police said. Shawn Gregory Walker, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rescuers needed two hours to free the driver from the vehicle, police said. He was taken to VCU Medical Center with serious injuries.

The storm killed at least nine people in Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia and Rhode Island.

In Suitland, Maryland, all of the residents of Andrews Ridge Apartments, an estimated 250 people, were evacuated because of wind damage. 

In northwest D.C. Friday afternoon, a falling tree trapped a man in an SUV in the 2500 block of 44th Street NW. He was removed from the SUV and is being treated for critical injuries.

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Fairfax County, Virginia, rescue crews needed about 30 minutes to get Scott Rauland out of his bed Friday morning after a tree crashed through the roof and landed on his wife's side of the bed. Luckily for her, she got out of bed about 4 a.m. to look out the window.

In Kensington, Maryland, a 100-year-old woman had to be rescued after a tree sliced through her home overnight. Firefighters pulled her from the debris and she was taken to the hospital. The woman's injuries are not life-threatening.

The Washington National Cathedral closed to visitors after scaffolding on one of its towers started to sway in the wind. There have been no reports of injuries.

A 227-year-old Canadian Hemlock tree that stood over George Washington's grave at his Mount Vernon estate fell in the winds, Mount Vernon said on Twitter.

A tree crashed through a roof and onto a couple's bed in Fairfax County, Virginia, but they're nearly unscathed. News4's David Culver spoke with the survivor and looked at damage throughout the county.

The last time the region saw winds this strong was during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. 

Storms are categorized as severe when wind gusts reach 58 mph — because that's when trees go down — and after all of the rain in February, conditions are even more favorable for falling trees. However, trees in the area are used to northwest winds, which is in their favor.

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Many schools canceled class because of the hazardous conditions. Schools in Prince George's, Montgomery, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties were closed Friday.

Federal offices in D.C. also were closed Friday. 

Virginia Railway Express service was canceled, and Metro is operated at slower speeds above ground. Because the severe weather, Metro's Rush Hour Promise will not be in effect Friday.

Flights in the region were canceled because of the storm. And at Dulles International Airport, the FAA tower was briefly evacuated Friday afternoon because of wind gusts close to 70 mph. It was reopened and controllers were allowed back in shortly before 1 p.m.

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