Washington D.C., July 9, 2025 – Severe thunderstorms battered the Washington D.C. region on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, triggering multiple tornado and flash flood warnings across the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland and Virginia counties. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Sterling, Virginia, issued urgent alerts as radar confirmed strong rotation and heavy rainfall, posing significant risks to residents and infrastructure. Below are the latest updates on the severe weather event as reported by the NWS and local sources.

Tornado Warnings in Washington D.C. and Maryland

• Tornado Warning Details: At 6:42 PM EDT on July 9, 2025, the NWS issued a tornado warning for north central District of Columbia, southeastern Montgomery County, and northwestern Prince George’s County, effective until 7:00 PM EDT. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was detected near Howard University, moving northeast at 25 mph. Affected areas included Hyattsville, Takoma Park, Catholic University, Chillum, Mount Rainier, and Brentwood. Residents were urged to take cover immediately in basements or interior rooms on the lowest floor of sturdy buildings to avoid flying debris and potential damage to roofs, siding, and windows.
• Other Affected Areas: Earlier warnings included parts of Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties until 9:15 PM EDT, with radar indicating a storm capable of producing a tornado near Langley Park moving northeast at 25 mph. Cities such as Laurel, Scaggsville, and Fairland were in the storm’s path.
• Regional Impact: Additional tornado warnings were issued for Calvert and St. Mary’s counties until 9:00 PM EDT, and for central Charles and northwest St. Mary’s counties until 8:15 PM EDT. A storm near Popes Creek was noted, with Charlotte Hall and other rural areas potentially affected.

Flash Flood Warnings and Impacts

• Flash Flood Alerts: The NWS issued flash flood warnings for Washington D.C., south central Montgomery County, and other areas including Baltimore, Columbia, and parts of northern Virginia until 9:15 PM EDT on July 9, 2025. Doppler radar indicated 1–3 inches of rain had already fallen, with an additional 1–2 inches possible at rates of 1–2 inches per hour, leading to ongoing or imminent flash flooding of small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, and underpasses. Affected locations included Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Annandale, Springfield, and Reagan National Airport.
• Flooding Reports: Local media reported floodwaters reaching up to 2 feet deep in Alexandria, prompting the closure of Main Street in Historic Ellicott City as a precaution. Howard and Carroll counties were under flash flood warnings until 9:15 PM, with northeastern Carroll County’s warning extended to 10:30 PM. A flood watch remained in effect for the entire D.C. region until midnight EDT.
• Transportation Disruptions: The severe weather caused significant disruptions, including flight delays at regional airports and speed restrictions on MARC train services, with potential delays of up to 25 minutes. Drivers were advised to avoid flooded roads, with officials emphasizing, “Turn around, don’t drown.”

Additional Weather Hazards

• Severe Thunderstorm Watch: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch (497) was in effect until 10:00 PM EDT for the District of Columbia and 13 Maryland counties, including Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s. The watch warned of damaging winds, large hail, and potential tornadoes.
• Power Outages: Approximately 1,700 Pepco customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and 2,500 Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County experienced power outages due to the storms.
• Event Cancellations: The severe weather prompted schedule changes, including the Baltimore Orioles moving their game against the Chicago White Sox to 4:30 PM EDT to avoid the worst conditions. The Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival, scheduled for Saturday, July 12, was postponed due to anticipated thunderstorms and flooding risks.

Safety Recommendations

The NWS and local authorities urged residents to:

• Seek immediate shelter in sturdy buildings during tornado warnings, avoiding windows and exterior walls.
• Avoid driving through flooded areas, as most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.
• Stay updated via emergency alerts by texting BMOREALERT to 888777 for real-time notifications in the Baltimore area.
• Monitor local weather updates through trusted sources like the NWS website (www.weather.gov) or local news outlets.

Forecast and Ongoing Concerns

• Continued Severe Weather: The NWS forecasted continued heavy rainfall and potential thunderstorms into Saturday, July 12, with a 90% chance of precipitation and wind gusts up to 23 mph. Sunday, July 13, is expected to bring clearer skies and a high near 73°F.
• Regional Context: The D.C. region’s severe weather follows a recent EF-1 tornado on June 5, 2025, in Montgomery County, highlighting the area’s vulnerability to such events during peak tornado season.

Community Sentiment

Posts on X reflected heightened concern, with users sharing dramatic visuals of a shelf cloud in Bowie, Maryland, and lightning over the White House. Residents were urged to stay vigilant as the storms brought intense lightning and rapidly rising floodwaters.

For the latest updates, visit the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov or follow local news sources like WTOP, The Washington Post, and The Baltimore Banner. Stay safe and prepared as the region navigates these severe weather conditions.

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