Thunderstorm Wind, Arlington
- When
- June 24, 4:10 PM EST to 4:21 PM EST
- Where
- Arlington County, National Airport
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph)
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Coordinates
- 38.850, -77.030
Damaging Wind in Virginia, June 24, 1996
A downburst struck extreme southeastern Arlington Co, producing sustained winds of 46 mph with a measured gust to 59 mph at Washington/National Airport (DCA). A USAir shuttle inexplicably departed from the airport at approximately 1615EST, just as the downburst was nearing full strength.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.
A downburst struck extreme southeastern Arlington Co, producing sustained winds of 46 mph with a measured gust to 59 mph at Washington/National Airport (DCA). A USAir shuttle inexplicably departed from the airport at approximately 1615EST, just as the downburst was nearing full strength. One of the plane's wings struck a runway light, causing minor damage. No injuries were reported on the flight. Additional tree and power line damage was noted in the Shirlington/Crystal City area.
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:11 UTC.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes in Virginia, June 24, 1996
- Tornadoes in Maryland, June 24, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Maryland, June 24, 1996
- Hail in Colorado, June 24, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, June 24, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, June 24, 1996
- Lightning Strike in Virginia, June 24, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Maryland, June 24, 1996
- Flash Flood in Ohio, June 24, 1996
- Lightning Strike in South Carolina, June 24, 1996
- Lightning Strike in Ohio, June 24, 1996
- Tornado in Maryland, June 24, 1996
More
Every storm in Virginia in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, June 1996
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5560577.