Strong storms lash area

Current flooding conditions: Readers are posting reports of current flooding on our facebook page. (Portions of Blue-Gray Parkway, Dixon Street (Route 2) and Wilderness Lane were reported closed due to flooding earlier this evening.

From the NWS:

Flash flood warning has expired; flash flood watch in effect until midnight.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. FLOODWATER USUALLY IS DEEPER THAN IT APPEARS. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. MAKE THE SMART CHOICE WHEN FLOODED ROADS ARE ENCOUNTERED… TURN AROUND… DONT DROWN.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for  Fredericksburg. It put out this special weather statement just after 6 p.m.:

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES SOUTH OF EARLYSVILLE TO 2 MILES SOUTH OF
MADISON RUN TO 2 MILES NORTH OF GLENORA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE ORANGE...STANARDSVILLE AND MADISON.

STORM INTENSITY IS INCREASING...AND SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP
RAPIDLY. REMAIN ALERT...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF WARNINGS
ARE ISSUED.

THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. MOVE
INDOORS IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR SAFETY. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU
ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

HEAVY RAIN WITH THESE STORMS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE
MILE AND MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS
MAY EXCEED ONE INCH IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

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