Tropical Storm Helene brings more wet weather to DC area as it moves north – WTOP News

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to continue traveling north toward the D.C. region, bringing tropical rain and potential flooding Friday afternoon and evening. Here’s what you need to know.

Friday afternoon travelers heading along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge saw significant delays through Annapolis as officials started “two-way operations at US-50 near Annapolis.”

“The rainy weather is preventing authorities from using two-way operations, except for small periods of time,” WTOP Traffic Reporter Ian Crawford reported. “Expect lengthy delays driving through Annapolis and across the Severn River Bridge, as you head for the Bay Bridge and the Eastern Shore.”

Since delays began, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced an end to two-way operations due to inclement weather and heavy east bound delays on the Bay Bridge.

These issues aren’t expected to ebb, as 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said, with storms grows in strength and moving north.

Johnson said there will be larger risk of inland flooding and heavy winds that could knock down trees or electricity poles in the D.C. area.

2:24PM-A shield of moderate to heavy rain continues to push over the central VA Piedmont with light bands of showers further north. Rain activity will continue through this evening as Helene pushes further west of the area. Weather improves Saturday. #MDwx #VAwx #WVwx #DCwx pic.twitter.com/k2kH6TOjGM

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) September 27, 2024

This is “the strongest hurricane since Ian back in 2022” as Helene was upgraded to a category four hurricane on Thursday night, she said. Winds were reaching 140 miles per hours, with gusts at 160 mph, when the hurricane first made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region late Thursday night

Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm Friday morning as it rapidly moved north, through southern Georgia, before blowing inland around 5 a.m. The National Hurricane Center said winds could top 110 miles per hour as the storm moves over Appalachian areas.

In the D.C. area, scattered showers Friday morning will increase through the afternoon and turn into some isolated thunderstorms as Helene passes by. 7News First Alert Meteorologist Mark Peña expects rainfall totals to reach 1.5 inches or higher.

“We’ve got areas of rain with even rumbles of thunder in the forecast throughout much of the afternoon and evening,” Peña said. “And this is thanks to the outer edges of Helene that will start to move through central and northern Virginia, starting to clip areas of the DMV later this afternoon.”

Parts of western and central Virginia are under a Flood Watch through Friday evening as the National Weather Service predicts excessive runoff from bodies of water, which could flood lowers areas with poor drainage. The weather service has also issued a Coastal Flood Warnings for D.C., Arlington, central Virginia and Charles County, Maryland.

Winds increase this afternoon & evening as Helene lifts across the southern Appalachians. Expect gusts up to 50 mph across the Alleghenies & Blue Ridge. Areas further east will see gusts between 20-30 mph. Downed trees & power outages are possible due to saturated ground. pic.twitter.com/Bwm7I2zg9V

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) September 27, 2024

Local response to Tropical Storm Helene

To help with the response to the tropical storm, search and rescue teams from Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland have been sent down to help.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Wednesday evening “in anticipation of impacts from Hurricane Helene later this week,” his office wrote in a release.

Youngkin said Virginians should still “remain vigilant” and keep an eye out for larger weather impacts, as storm forecasts can change rapidly.

“As high winds and heavy rains are predicted for parts of Virginia, we urge everyone to stay informed through trusted resources and follow the direction of your local officials,” Youngkin said.

The state of emergency allows Virginia “to mobilize resources and equipment needed for response and recovery efforts,” according to the governor’s office.

Meanwhile, officials in Montgomery County Maryland said the state’s Task Force 1 was monitoring the hurricane from Macon, Georgia through at least Friday.

The 45-person and 4-canine crew stationed in the city through the overnight hours as staff awaited direction from federal and state emergency management officials, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer. The group, he said, was likely to shelter in place as life-threatening conditions impact the state.

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