Severe Thunderstorm Threat in D.C. Area Prompts Federal Office Closures
The D.C. area is facing an uncommonly severe thunderstorm threat on Monday, with the potential for damaging winds, tornadoes, hail, torrential rain, and frequent lightning. The National Weather Service has issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe storms, the first time in about a decade. The Beltway area is most at risk between 5 and 7:30 p.m. A tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m., indicating the possibility of severe storms with destructive winds and possibly tornadoes. Residents are urged to stay alert and take necessary precautions.
In response to the severe storm threat, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced the closure of Federal offices at 3 p.m. Employees are advised to depart 2 hours earlier than their normal departure time and may request Unscheduled Leave to depart prior to their staggered departure time. All employees must depart no later than 3 p.m. Federal offices will be closed at that time.
The National Weather Service has been briefing emergency managers and the media about the storm threat since Monday morning. Chris Strong, the warning coordination meteorologist at the Washington office of the National Weather Service, emphasized the unusual and dangerous nature of the severe weather setup. While it is uncertain if the storm complex will be a derecho, residents are advised to prepare as if one is coming for their house.
A tornado watch has been issued until 9 p.m., with a very favorable setup for severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes and widespread damaging winds. The watch area spans from Richmond into northern Pennsylvania, including Baltimore, Hagerstown, and Harrisburg, affecting a population of more than 15 million.
The National Weather Service has posted a special bulletin stating that there is a 95 percent chance a tornado watch will be issued for the region. The bulletin highlights the D.C. area as having a relatively higher tornado threat, with a strong tornado not being ruled out.
Less than 10 days after violent storms hit the area, the D.C. region is facing the possibility of an even more widespread episode of severe weather. The National Weather Service has placed the region under a Level 4 of 5 risk of severe weather, indicating high confidence in the occurrence of damaging winds, severe hail, and/or tornadoes.
The storms are expected to occur between 4 and 8 p.m., with the Beltway and Interstate 95 most at risk between 5 and 7:30 p.m. The main threats include damaging to destructive gusts, brief tornadoes, hail, torrential rain, and frequent lightning. Scattered to widespread power outages are probable. Residents are advised to stay aware of the evolving situation, secure outdoor items, charge devices, and plan to avoid travel during the storms.
The storm hazard of greatest concern is damaging or even destructive winds, with a 45 to 59 percent chance of winds of at least 58 mph within 25 miles of any location in the region. There is also a 10 to 14 percent chance of tornadoes within 25 miles of any location. Flooding is also a possibility in parts of the area due to the soft ground from heavy rains on Sunday.
Residents are advised to charge devices and batteries ahead of possible strong winds, secure or move inside loose outdoor items, avoid parking cars near large trees, and seek shelter in an interior room away from windows in the event of a tornado warning or warning for destructive winds. It is also important to be off the roads by the time severe weather commences and to turn around if encountering flooded roads while driving.
The potentially dangerous thunderstorm situation is expected to unfold as uncharacteristically strong weather elements for August coalesce. A vigorous upper-level disturbance moving out of Ohio, along with strong mid-level winds and a moist air mass, will contribute to the development of severe thunderstorms. The D.C. area will be positioned in the warm sector of a low-pressure system, with a line of severe thunderstorms likely to evolve by midafternoon.
Residents are reminded that it is impossible to know in advance where the most severe weather will strike and to be prepared for any potential damage.Severe Thunderstorm Threat in D.C. Area Prompts Federal Office Closures and Tornado Watch
The D.C. area is bracing for an uncommonly severe thunderstorm threat on Monday, with the potential for damaging winds, tornadoes, hail, torrential rain, and frequent lightning. The National Weather Service has issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe storms, the first time in about a decade. The Beltway area is most at risk between 5 and 7:30 p.m., with the storms expected to occur between 4 and 8 p.m.
A tornado watch has been issued until 9 p.m., indicating that ingredients are in place for severe storms with destructive winds and possibly tornadoes. While it’s not a guarantee, residents are urged to stay alert and take necessary precautions. If a warning for a tornado or destructive thunderstorm is issued for your location, it is advised to shelter in an interior room, away from windows, at the lowest level of a strong building.
Power outages are likely, and residents are advised to charge their devices and secure or bring inside loose outdoor items ahead of the storms. Travel during the storms should be avoided.
In response to the severe storm threat, the Office of Personnel Management announced the closure of federal offices at 3 p.m. Employees are encouraged to depart 2 hours earlier than their normal departure time and may request unscheduled leave to depart prior to their staggered departure time.
The National Weather Service has been briefing emergency managers and the media about the storm threat since Monday morning. Chris Strong, the warning coordination meteorologist at the Washington office of the National Weather Service, emphasized the unusual and dangerous nature of the severe weather setup. While it’s uncertain if the storm complex will be a derecho, residents are advised to prepare as if one is coming for their house.
The storm hazard of greatest concern is damaging or even destructive winds, with a 45 to 59 percent chance of winds of at least 58 mph within 25 miles of any location in the region. There is also a 10 to 14 percent chance of tornadoes within 25 miles of any location, which is unusually high for the area. Flooding
What are the reasons and considerations that led the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to close Federal offices at 3 p.m. in response to the Level 4 risk for severe storms in the Beltway area?
Issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe storms, the first time in about a decade. The Beltway area is most at risk between 5 and 7:30 p.m. A tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m., indicating the possibility of severe storms with destructive winds and possibly tornadoes. To ensure the safety of employees, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced the closure of Federal offices at 3 p.m. The National Weather Service has been briefing emergency managers and the media about the dangerous nature of the severe weather setup. The D.C. area is urged to prepare for the potential impact of these storms, including strong winds, hail, and the possibility of tornadoes. Residents are advised to stay alert and take necessary precautions.
