Flash Flood in Virginia, September 11, 1996

Name: Flash Flood in Virginia, September 11, 1996
Start: 1996-09-11T08:00
End: 1996-09-11T09:30
Location: Virginia

September 11, 1996 · NWS LWX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

5 inches of rain on the immediate southern suburbs of Washington, causing localized flash flooding during the tail end of the morning commute. The George Washington Parkway was closed just north of Alexandria, and Edsall Road was reported under water at the junction of interstate 395.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
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 nearly stationary line of showers and thunderstorms dumped between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain on the immediate southern suburbs of Washington, causing localized flash flooding during the tail end of the morning commute. The George Washington Parkway was closed just north of Alexandria, and Edsall Road was reported under water at the junction of interstate 395.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:57 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Arlington

When: September 11, 8:00 AM EST to 9:30 AM EST
Where: Arlington County, Countywide
Coordinates: 38.879, -77.101 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, September 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: 5572198.