High water on roadways around the area snarled commutes once again yesterday, just six days after massive storms ripped up trees and left tens of thousands in the dark. Fortunately, we didn't experience the massive wind gusts of last week, but heavy rains created flood-like conditions in many areas.
The National Weather Service issued flood warnings in parts of the area Wednesday morning.
High water was reported on numerous roadways. Rock Creek flooded, with water outside of the creek banks. Canal and Arizona roads in Northwest were closed due to high water.
Outside of the District, the Dulles Toll Road and Norbeck Road at Bauer Drive in Rockville, Md., were affected. High water on the Inner Loop of the Beltway at Route 50 in Maryland closed one lane earlier Wednesday morning.
A flood watch for much of the area remained in effect until 3 a.m. Thursday. Dry air should move in by dawn Thursday, but until then people in areas prone to flooding should be prepared and monitor weather forecasts. Though high water has receded, continued rain could mean more flooding. Do not try to drive over flooded roads, as the depth may not be obvious or the road could have washed away.
D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Pete Piringer said his department was involved in a dozen rescues Wednesday morning, including one on Canal Road where rescue swimmers helped pull people stuck in cars on Canal Road, according to the Associated Press. Earlier, about five people were rescued from several vehicles stranded in the 4400 block of Broad Branch Road NW, Piringer said.
Fairfax County Fire Department spokesman Dan Schmidt said rescuers in a boat pulled a woman from her car in water above its hood in the Great Falls area.
Wednesday morning's weather knocked down more trees, which took down more power lines. A big tree fell on power lines on Ingomar Place in northwest Washington. Pepco crews quickly went to the scene to cut branches away from the power lines.
A tree fell on a vehicle Hobart Street in Northwest. And on Galena Place, a huge tree took out a fence and also brought down some power lines.
Wednesday evening, Pepco reported 1,926 customers without power in D.C., 1,887 in Montgomery County and 448 in Prince George's County. Dominion reported 57 customers without power in northern Virginia.
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Several other roads had to be closed Wednesday morning:
Montgomery County, Md.:
- River Road at Whittier Boulevard and at Goldsboro Road
- Little Falls Road at River Road
- Goldsboro at MacArthur Boulevard
- East-West Highway at Brookeville Road
- Montrose Road at Seven Locks Road
Prince George's County, Md.:
- Route 1 at Olympia Ave.
- Quimby Ave. at Route 1
McLean, Va.:
- Old Courthouse at Besley Road
- Swinks Mill Road between Georgetown Pike and Old Dominion
- Towlston Road at Belleview Road
- Lewinsville Road at Lewinsville Mews Court
Reston, Va.:
- Lawyers Road at Dunnels Farm Drive
- Lawyers Rd at Hunter Mill Road -- bridge is closed
Fair Oaks, Va.:
- Court House Road at Hidden Road -- tree blocking Court House
- Old Columbia Pike at Oxford Street -- wires down in road
In Fairfax County, Va., the bridge in the 800 block of Swinks Mill Road buckled. Parts of the bridge at Browns Mill and Beulah roads in Reston washed away. Both bridges could be closed for days.
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