Severe storms cause flooding, road closures, crashes, stranded vehicles in DC area

WASHINGTON - Officials warned residents of potential flooding Wednesday as thunderstorms producing heavy rain moved through the D.C. area.

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for the District of Columbia and several surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia until 9:15 p.m., but it has since expired.

The D.C. region has been dealing with heavy rainfall since last weekend. Drivers are being advised to be careful out on the roads and to turn around when encountering flooded roadways.

A mail truck overturned in the area of Rock Creek Park in Northwest D.C. Wednesday evening, according to D.C. fire officials. The driver was found safe and unharmed.

The southbound lanes of Interstate 495 in Silver Spring were flooded during the evening rush as authorities were seen directing traffic to avoid the high water.

In Montgomery County, parts of Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive were shut down to traffic.

In Ellicott City, Howard County officials were warning residents in the Main Street area Wednesday night to get to higher ground as a precaution as water levels rose.

A customer dining at SER Restaurant in Arlington witnessed water pouring inside the restaurant after the roof caved in from the heavy rain Wednesday night.

The recent downpours over the past few days have also led to several trees toppling over. A business owner captured a large tree falling in the street in Culpeper County. On Monday, a Fairfax County woman was killed after a big tree in her backyard fall onto her house while she was inside.

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