Torrential rains swept through the Washington, D.C., region early Monday toward the end of the morning rush hour, causing widespread flooding, including on the regional Metro subway system.

There were tweets depicting what amounted to a waterfall inundating one Metro station through its roof:

Waterfall effects were also in evidence at area residences, including this one in a section of Arlington, Va., where a residential street was awash with debris:

Rainwater was shown pouring down one of the Metro system’s commuter elevators:

Driving, too, was hazardous, with cars all but underwater on Canal Road, a popular commuter route into the city:

Local law enforcement indicated that drivers were being rescued throughout the region from flooded roadways.

A reporter with CNBC reported that water was even seeping into the White House basement:

The National Weather Service issued a rare flash-flood emergency until 11:15 a.m. local time. Rain has been falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour, according to reports: </s> Washington, D.C. commuters came back to work after the long weekend with a bang. Powerful storms swept across the nation’s capital, inundating roadways, unleashing flash floods, and creating at least two waterfalls in the Metro system. Even the White House experienced some flooding.



The entire Washington, D.C. metro area is under some form of flash flood or watch as of Monday morning. The National Weather Service is reporting that “over three inches of rain” have already fallen in many places with water on some creeks reportedly rising up to nine feet in just 30 minutes and the storm looks to be a one in every 100-200 year event according to Aon meteorologist Steven Bowen. The warning continues:



All that rain falling during the morning commute has unleashed havoc from Baltimore to Washington, D.C. to Northern Virginia. The DC Metro, which has become somewhat infamous for its summertime floods, has been hit particularly hard, with a waterfall dropping from the ceiling of the Virginia Square station in Arlington. Multiple Metro riders, including E&E News climate reporter Niina Farah, captured the dramatic scene of water pouring down from the ceiling to the tracks below as trains passed underneath. Elevators at the Pentagon Metro station also turned into waterfalls.

But the flooding is hardly all subterranean. Many roadways were quickly turned into rivers of rushing water this morning. According to Capital Weather Gang, there have already been multiple high water rescues. Local traffic reporter David Dildine captured some of the flooding on the aptly-named Canal Rd. in northwest Washington, D.C. and tweeted that he had to swim to safety. Other commuters captured buses trapped as floodwaters rushed from creeks into the streets. The whole episode underscores why, when the National Weather Service or your local meteorologist intones “turn around, don’t drown,” you should listen.

Not to be outdone, the White House is also under siege from water. The streets out front have completely flooded and White House reporters confirmed that water was seeping in through the basement. The floodwaters are rising on a day when the President Trump is set to deliver remarks on his administration’s “environmental leadership,” which amounts to leaving the world’s main climate treaty and rolling back climate and environmental regulations.

Heavy downpours like the one swallowing Washington, D.C. are on the rise nationwide due to the simple fact a warmer atmosphere can hold more water. At the same time, much of our infrastructure is not ready for the deluges of today (this isn’t Metro’s first flood rodeo), let alone the more powerful ones of tomorrow. The Trump administration’s policies are ensuring these types of events could happen more often so, uh Trump might want to take a raincheck on that speech. </s> A morning rainstorm creating a treacherous commute across the nation’s capital on Monday, as numerous roads were washed out amid flash flooding -- and even the White House basement ended up getting soaked.

The National Weather Service said "torrential rainfall" across the Washington D.C. metro area spawned a Flash Flood Emergency that warned of life-threatening situations.

"If you are in this FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY area, travel will be EXTRAORDINARILY dangerous, including washouts, #flooding over roads. Stay out of low areas, if in a low area that may flood, seek higher ground," the agency warned on Twitter. "Stay off the roads if at all possible. This is not the 'usual' flooding."

Fox News Meteorologist Adam Klotz said on "America's Newsroom" the conditions for major flooding came together directly over the area.

"It's a little bit of a surprise, actually," he said. "We knew there was rain moving across the region, it has just really piled up in a particular spot."

The ground across the capital region was already saturated, having seen up to six inches of rain in the past week, according to Klotz.

"That means this additional rain, where you've seen a couple of inches of the past couple of hours, there's nowhere for it to go," Klotz said.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION LIKELY TO FORM IN GULF OF MEXICO, MAY BRING HEAVY RAINFALL, FORECASTERS SAY

NWS meteorologist Cody Ledbetter told the Associated Press the storm dumped about 6.3 inches of rain near Frederick, Maryland, about 4.5 inches near Arlington, Virginia, and about 3.4 inches at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in a two-hour period.

Water gushed into the press workspace in the basement near the White House's West Wing, creating a large puddle.

Government employees from the General Services Administration worked to drain puddles of standing water with wet vacuums.

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Emergency crews across the area were dispatched to multiple water rescues in areas like Germantown, Frederick, Fairfax County and in Washington D.C., FOX5 reported.

Water also was seen in videos posted to Twitter gushing into Washington Metro stations.

One video posted by Niina Farah, showed water pouring through an opening in the roof and onto the tracks at the Virginia Square-GMU Station, according to FOX5.

Another video by Nick Scalera showed water streaming in through an elevator at Pentagon Metro.

A spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire Department, Pete Piringer, said that emergency workers in the Maryland county used boats for dozens of rescues, plucking people from flooded cars. There were no reports of storm-related injuries, but several accidents were also reported.

Klotz said that the line of storms has since moved south of the metro area, and that clearing skies will give the area a chance to dry off as the day progress. After this morning's onslaught, dry conditions are expected to continue this week, according to Klotz.

Fox News' Matt Leach and the Associated Press contributed to this report. </s> Almost a month’s worth of rain fell in just one hour in Washington D.C., Monday, bringing a halt to the morning rush hour.

The National Weather Service classified the line of storms in the nation’s capital as a once-in-100-year event.

Between 9 and 10 a.m., 3.30 inches of rain fell at Reagan National Airport, just .43 inches shy of the monthly normal. As the rains stopped, amounts totaled higher than 4 inches across the D.C. metro area.

The downpour triggered a two-hour flash flood emergency for the metro region, which is more serious than a flash flood warning.

Videos of the flooding around the National Mall surfaced across social media. Many streets were turned into rivers, and crews brought out boats to rescue people stranded in their cars.

Jeff DuVal, a deputy director of the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services in Alexandria, Virginia, told CNN the flash flooding closed several roads. Officials warned motorists to stay off the roads due to the flooding.

According to the National Weather Service, most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Public service announcements remind people that if they approach a flooded road, to “turn around, don’t drown.” It only takes 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars.

The rains were so intense Monday that water broke through the ceiling of a Washington Metro underground station.

The forecast calls for sunny and dry conditions over D.C. for the next two days, with rain chances returning on Thursday. </s> “The swamp” is slowly draining after a deluge of heavy rain during the height of the morning commute led to flash flood warnings and rising waters in and around the nation’s capital. The flooding closed roads, stranded drivers, canceled buses, suspended Amtrak service, and created waterfalls in the city’s subway system.

In the 9 a.m. hour alone, 3.3 inches of rain fell at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport just outside the city. The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang noted that Monday became one of the wettest days in July dating back to 1871. Nearly a month’s worth fell in just an hour.

Emergency services across the region reported dozens of water rescues and stranded motorists. The D.C. Fire Department said they rescued some 15 people from cars stuck in high water, some in the few blocks between the White House and the Washington Monument. Neighboring Arlington County, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland, said they rescued more than 50 people from cars, houses, and apartments. There have been no reports of fatalities.

It wasn’t just drivers who faced problems Monday. Riders at the Pentagon’s Metro stop faced a flooding elevator shaft, and at Virginia Square a heavy torrent of water poured in from the station’s arched roof onto the subway tracks below. Local bus service closed entirely in Alexandria and Arlington. Even the White House basement began leaking, and the tunnel between the Capitol and the nearby Rayburn House Office Building was briefly closed.

While a single storm can’t be attributed to climate change, extreme downpours like the one that hit Washington are becoming increasingly common, according to the U.S. government’s 2018 National Climate Assessment, and they’re becoming more severe. Communities like Ellicott City, Maryland, have been repeatedly slammed by heavy flooding, and in the Midwest, farmers are still struggling after record floods this spring. The amount of rain falling in the worst 1 percent of storms has risen by 55 percent in the Northeast and 42 percent in the Midwest since 1958. As extreme downpours become more common in wetter parts of the country, dryer parts of the country like the Southwest and Southern Great Plains will also see more extreme droughts.

Monday’s storm is a reminder that extreme downpours are another warning sign of what is to come as the Earth continues to warm. Meanwhile, the president and GOP lawmakers who have advocated to “drain the swamp” refuse to acknowledge human-caused climate change. Maybe they’ll catch on before they need a boat to get to work. </s> The Washington, DC, area on Monday was deluged with heavy rain, which turned streets into rivers and led to closed roads and stranded drivers. Water also seeped into the White House basement.

The National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency, and CBS News reports that "the storm dumped about 6.3 inches of rain near Frederick, Maryland, about 4.5 inches near Arlington, Virginia, and about 3.4 inches at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in a two-hour period."

The flooding was deep in the streets outside the National Archives building, which had to close Monday. The site's official Twitter account said the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and other valuable records stored there were not in danger.

The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, is closed today due to electrical outages. The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights--along with all of the permanently valuable records stored in the building--are safe and not in any danger. pic.twitter.com/aGWOie0BjC — US National Archives (@USNatArchives) July 8, 2019

The weather led to some frightening images of water flooding elevators, Metro stations and parking lots.

The White House didn't go untouched. Several journalists posted photos of water leaking into the press space in the White House basement, which naturally led to plenty of jokes about presidential leaks and swamp-draining.

White House is leaking pic.twitter.com/rmfQBDiyCk — Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) July 8, 2019

It’s official: The White House basement is flooding. pic.twitter.com/f1DR6awE89 — Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) July 8, 2019

Update: swamp draining in progress. WH leaks appear contained. Press pool dry. pic.twitter.com/crYTdjelG5 — Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) July 8, 2019

The leaks from this White House just don't stop. — 🏴‍☠️ PirateCat 🏴‍☠️ (@PirateCat8) July 8, 2019

Unnerving photos and video shared to social media showed just how deep the water really was.

Got to see a waterfall today during my morning commute #VSquare pic.twitter.com/e3i0sCmxGo — Hugo Dante (@HugoDanteJr) July 8, 2019

Scary exit from the parking garage under the Capitals Ice Rink / Ballston Commons Mall in Arlington. The bottom level is a River! ⁦@WTOP⁩ ⁦@WTOPtraffic⁩ ⁦@ABC7News⁩ pic.twitter.com/exleKNbpEw — Wendy Marco (@WendyMarco924) July 8, 2019

Serious flooding situation on Canal Road near Fletchers Cove with numerous drivers stranded, so I’m swimming to safety #DCWX @WTOP pic.twitter.com/UNFOmZkltO — Dave Dildine (@DildineWTOP) July 8, 2019

A number of roads are impassable, Amtrak has suspended service south of D.C., DASH buses are suspended, even the White House basement is flooding. https://t.co/UkQIx6AQbG pic.twitter.com/RBabFTXwfx — DCist (@DCist) July 8, 2019

I’m advising commuters not to use the street elevator at Pentagon Metro this morning. #wmata pic.twitter.com/z8bNwAPcPG — Nick Scalera (@nickscalera) July 8, 2019

The rain is largely over, but power outages, sinkholes, road closures, and flooding remain. https://t.co/dBbu51zlJB pic.twitter.com/gi1zw3p416 — Rachel Sadon (@Rachel_Sadon) July 8, 2019

#DCsBravest have removed several occupants to safety from cars in high water at 15th St and Constitution Ave NW. pic.twitter.com/MKXSMJzsua — DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) July 8, 2019

We got a bit of an issue here... 😱 pic.twitter.com/58g9RJfm0c — Dr. Rocío Caballero-Gill (@CaballeroGill) July 8, 2019

That happens a lot downtown, and it is actually fine, to a point. Remember: This was a swamp, and you are really in what was the Potomac's marshy banks all the way up to Capitol Hill. And once in a while nature reminds you of it. — Tᴏm Mᴏᴏʀᴇ (@PaperMissiles) July 8, 2019

The situation was serious, but it being DC, jokes, of course, were inevitable.

The Reflecting Pool is getting a bit full of itself... — Charles King (@PundITInc) July 8, 2019

Harder for the brits to burn down again... — Tormented Penguin (@TormentedPengu) July 8, 2019

I spent all weekend being like "Will it just fucking rain already?" and now I have to go gather up animals by twos. — Drew Magary (@drewmagary) July 8, 2019

At press time, transportation officials were warning of a bad evening commute ahead for Washingtonians. </s> Torrential rain lashed Washington DC and surrounding areas on Monday, flooding many neighborhoods and hobbling electricity and transportation networks

Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 9th Jul, 2019 ) :Torrential rain lashed Washington DC and surrounding areas on Monday, flooding many neighborhoods and hobbling electricity and transportation networks.

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning as the storm hit, drowning roads and forcing closures of many major arteries. Airports and rail networks were also hit, causing delays.

The American capital's Ronald Reagan airport received 3.3 inches (around 83 millimeters) of rainfall in just one hour, the NWS added in a tweet.

Dramatic footage aired on local tv stations and posted on social media showed vehicles submerged on roads near major landmarks like the Washington Monument, and some motorists standing on the roofs of their cars as the floodwaters rose.

One such video showed water gushing down through a hole in the roof of a Washington metro station.

The main power vault of the National Archives building -- which houses some of the most important documents in American history -- was flooded, cutting power as the streets around it were submerged.

"The building's flood walls deployed and worked," the institution said in a statement.

"The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights -- along with all of the permanently valuable records stored in the building -- are safe and not in any danger." The White House was not spared either: Footage posted by several correspondents and outlets showed puddles forming in one of its basements.

Emergency services said they received dozens of calls from citizens seeking help. Despite the widespread flooding, no deaths were reported.

The rainfall and floodwaters subsided later in the day, as damage assessments began in the District of Columbia -- where Washington is located -- and neighboring parts of Virginia and Maryland.

Hundreds of customers were affected by power outages because of the rainfall, according to a live map on the website of local utility Pepco.

"Stay clear of downed power lines and always assume they are energized," it said in a tweet. </s> Heavy rain fell onto Washington, D.C., on Monday, flooding streets and causing bundles of leaks throughout the district, according to NBC Washington. Drivers were left stranded in their vehicles as the streets were full of water. Leaks dripped through into Metro stations as well.

Many areas in Washington, D.C., experienced 3-4 inches of rain in about an hour (or, in some cases, less). The Reagan National Airport said it recorded 3.3 inches in an hour between 9 and 10 a.m. on Monday.

A flash flood warning went into effect Monday, too.

Dramatic photos and videos were captured and shared on social media, showing the torrential rain and flooding in the district and in Maryland. We’ve collected several of them and shared them below. </s> WASHINGTON (WPB) — Heavy rains hit the Washington, D.C., region Monday morning caused major delays during the rush-hour commute and left thousands without power.

Four inches of heavy rain fell within an hour, creating the need for dozens of water rescues and left traffic at a standstill along major highways, some of which were temporarily closed.

Police and fire officials advised commuters to stay off roads until 11:15 a.m. while the area was under a flash flood warning. More than 8,000 utility customers were without power at one point.

Amtrak suspended trains traveling south of Washington, D.C., because of severe weather. Just before noon, Amtrak said it would “gradually begin to move” trains.

Parts of the George Washington Parkway and the inner loops of the Capital Beltway near the American Legion Bridge were shut down for a time because of high water. The Beltway was backed up starting near Interstate 66.

Heavy downpours also caused delays on the area’s subway, known as Metro, and at one point, water poured from a ceiling in the Virginia Square station, causing trains to share a track.

By noon, Metro said service was returning to normal on all of its rail lines. But the Virginia Railway Express warned of possible delays during the afternoon commute.

In downtown Washington, the White House basement reportedly flooding. And there were reports of some ride-sharing services, including Uber and Lyft, imposing surge pricing, with some reports of charges of nearly $30 to go three blocks in downtown D.C.

At least a dozen commuters throughout the region had to be rescued or were able to swim to safety.

Some of the most severe flooding occurred along Canal Road, near the Fletcher’s Cove boathouse along the Potomac River. Several people were rescued from the rooftops of their cars, said Vito Maggiolo, a spokesman for D.C. Fire.

“The message here is that you don’t know how high the water is before you drive into it,” Maggiolo said. “So don’t drive into it.”

And, throughout the area, people crammed under bus shelters and pedestrians jumped over heavy waters at curbs.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, the flash floods were the worst the region had seen in years, according to Earl Stoddard, director of the county’s Office of Emergency Management.

The hardest-hit areas for flooding were Germantown and Gaithersburg, Maryland, along with parts of Bethesda and Potomac. In Fairfax County, Virginia, McLean and Reston were among the hardest hit, officials said.
Flash flooding in Washington, D.C. delivers a month's worth of rain on the local area in the span of an hour. The torrential rain leaves commuters stranded on car rooftops, floods several metro stations and causes flooding in the White House.