After heavy rains and gusty winds overnight, the rain and potential flooding will continue through Thursday.

In Reston, there are many downed branches on roads and sidewalks. There are no major power outages reported.

More than two inches of rain fell overnight, hitting the southern portion of Fairfax County hard. A flood warning remains in effect until 10:45 a.m. for the areas closer to I-95 (Alexandria, Springfield, Burke, Fairfax City and others). Reston remains under a flood watch through Friday.

The Capital Weather Gang says and additional three inches of rain will fall today, and Reston may see a total of six inches by the time this front moves away on Friday.

Graphic: Storm front for Sept. 29/Credit: WeatherBell.com

It’s going to be another brutally hot day on Monday.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

The NWS says that temperatures will be in the mid-90s, but the heat index values will make it feel like it is 105 degrees.

It’s expected to be even hotter and more humid on Tuesday, before things begin to cool off a bit mid-week.

From the NWS:

IMPACTS… RISK OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS FOR THOSE WITHOUT AIR- CONDITIONING OR THOSE OUTDOORS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE, RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING.

KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

It’s hot — and going to get hotter.

A heat advisory remains in effect for Fairfax County until 8 p.m. this evening and an excessive heat watch is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening.

A heat advisory means that a period of high temperatures is expected. The combination of high temperatures and high humidity will create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. An excessive heat watch means that a prolonged period of dangerously high temperatures is possible. Prepare for extreme temperatures and high humidity which would create a situation in which heat illnesses are expected.

From the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Services:

The National Weather Service forecasts heat index values around 105°F (Fahrenheit). today and possibly greater than 110°F on Saturday. Temperatures today will rise to the mid to upper 90s and around 100°F tomorrow.

There is a risk of heat-related illness for those without air-conditioning or those who are outdoors for an extended period.

• Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside.
• When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
• Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when possible.
• Drink plenty of water.

During extremely hot days, there is plenty you can do to stay cool; resting for just two hours in air conditioning can significantly reduce heat-related illnesses. Take in a movie, stroll through a shopping center or visit one of the Fairfax County Cooling Centers.

SUN/Credit: Fabio Rossi via Flickr

Reston and the Washington, DC, area are under a heat advisory for Monday, which could be the hottest day here since July 26, 2012.

The heat advisory will be in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Monday. Temperatures will be between 95 and 100 this afternoon — but with the heat index will feel like up to 108 degrees.

The National Weather Service says take precautions  — hydrate, wear loose clothing and avoid long periods of time outdoors if possible. Thunderstorms are forecast for this evening, but temperatures will return to only slight less scorching on Tuesday (mid-90s; heat index of 100).

Records for July 25:

• DCA: 100 (1930)
• IAD : 98 (2010)
• BWI: 100 (2010)

Want to keep cool?

Reston Association Pool Schedule

The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole at Lake Fairfax Park

Lake Anne Recreation Area, 11301 North Shore Drive, has a spray feature.

Reston Town Square Park, Explorer and Market Streets at Reston Town Center, has a splash fountain.

Splash fountain at Reston Town Square Park/file photo

Hot.

That’s the word of the weekend for Reston and the rest of the Washington, D.C. area.

Some of the hottest air of the season and possibly of the last several years will hit us beginning today and lasting through at least Monday.

Temperatures will feel like they are around 100 today — and the heat index reads more like 105  — or more — for Saturday and Sunday.

“You should expect excessive heat with temperatures in the upper 90s with heat indices at or above 105°F (Fahrenheit). The hottest days appear to be Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24 when heat indices could approach 110°F,” says the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management.”

The hot weather system is part of a “heat dome” stretching over much of the country. Read more about the forecast from the Capital Weather Gang.

Meanwhile, there is a Code Orange air alert for Friday. That means the air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, people with asthma or heart disease and the elderly. Those groups should avoid strenuous activity outdoors.

Graphic: National Weather Service

It has not been 100 degrees in the Washington area since July of 2012.

We may see the century mark later this week — and maybe more than once.

The Capital Weather Gang says forecasting models are “fairly uniform in forecasting high temperatures near or above 100 degrees this weekend. Temperatures could approach 100 on Friday and Monday too, models suggest.”

The combination of heat and humidity could be particularly brutal. The National Weather Service predicts a heat index of 106 degrees Saturday and says there’s a 28 percent it could exceed 110.

And don’t get scared — but do check your air conditioning system. The European model predicts a high of 106 degrees on Sunday, which would tie D.C.’s highest recorded temperature (established Aug. 6, 1918, and matched July 20, 1930).

Another model, the GFS model, says it will a high of 105 degrees in D.C. Sunday.

The CWG says “it is premature to confidently call for temperatures this high since the exact intensity of the heat wave is uncertain and will evolve.” But know this: it will be the hottest stretch of 2016.

Photo by Fabio Rossi via Flickr

On June 29, 2012, Reston was one of the target spots for a rare and powerful storm that ripped through a swath of Mid-Atlantic states.

The derecho of 2012 came through here that evening, bringing with it winds of 60-80 miles per hour, downed trees, widespread damage and hundreds of people without power for days.

The National Weather Service said at the time derechos hit the Mid-Atlantic about once every four years — so we may be due for another one soon.

But many Restonians had never heard the word before June 29, 2012. They learned it soon after looking at the damage.

The derecho, which affected an area from Ohio to Virginia, started with searing heat (it reached 104 degrees in the DC area that day). Then the hot air moved northward, clashing with a weather front that fell from near Chicago. As both moved towards Northern Virginia, it brought the severe thunderstorms.

Fairfax County officials said they learned from the experiences of June 2012.

“We continue to talk about the derecho storm four years later because it impacted many aspects of our emergency preparedness and response efforts,” Fairfax County emergency preparedness officials say on the county’s website.

“Unlike hurricanes or blizzards, there aren’t days to prepare for something like a derecho. We continue to conduct exercise drills so we’re better prepared.”

What can you do to better prepare for a fast-moving severe storm? Here are some guidelines from the county.

As we officially enter the summer season, which can bring extreme heat and severe thunderstorms, here’s a six-step plan of action to prepare for the next weather event:

• 1.) Buy flashlights and extra batteries so you’re ready if you lose power. You may also want to consider purchasing a generator in case you lose electricity for extended periods. Do NOT plan to use candles as they pose a fire hazard. Do NOT use a generator inside your house.
• 2.) Sign up for emergency alerts, including severe weather alerts, that can be delivered to you by email and text.
• 3.) Become digitally prepared, including thinking about power supply for your smartphones, tips to conserve batteries and more.
• 4.) Text-to-911 is now available in Fairfax County. Know how and when to use it.
• 5.) Put together a plan. “Planning” may not seem important or perhaps you think it’s too hard to do. Start with the Ready NOVA Emergency Preparedness Planner, a free, online tool that makes it easy to put together an emergency plan for your family.
• 6.) Have cash on hand; if power is lost for an extended period of time, then you can only use cash to purchase things like gas for your car.

“As we arrive at the fourth anniversary of the derecho, we all need to continue to focus on being prepared,” says Roy Shrout, acting coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management.

“Preparedness does not stop with your home, but includes your workplace, school and when you are mobile.”

Meanwhile, the derecho brought out the best in some Reston neighbors. Many people helped each other in the cleanup efforts and shared ice, flashlights, grills and other supplies.

And when the Lake Anne Fellowship House, a subsidized senior citizens facility, experienced a power outage that lasted for days, hundreds of Reston-area residents brought food, drinks and other supplies to the residents.

Reston saw all the weather Tuesday afternoon — from a few showers about 2 p.m. to a severe downpour by 6 p.m. to a hailstorm at 7 and a rainbow at 7:30 p.m.

Whew. Today calls for much calmer skies. But here is what Restonians had to say while the skies opened.

It has finally stopped. For now.

“It” is the rain and it has interfered with everything from baseball games to last weekend’s Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival to the general mood of the people of Reston.

The Capital Weather Gang says so far this May, D.C. has had a record number of rainy days (19 of 23) and the coolest high temperatures since 1882. This May’s afternoon highs are running 15 degrees cooler than last May. It is nearly Memorial Day weekend and we still haven’t hit 80 degrees. Read More

Northern Virginia may get hit with some strong thunderstorms on Tuesday.

The Capital Weather Gang says a cold front will hit the region, bringing with it isolated but severe storms from 4 to 10 p.m.

The storms could bring with its heavy rainfall, lightning, gusty winds and hail.

Read more details on The Capital Weather Gang.

Photo: Rain/Credit: Bahmad Farzad via Flickr

April showers bring May flowers, right?  What do the forecasters have to say about spring snow showers?

Yes, it’s nearly mid April and it may snow a little this weekend. It will certainly be cold enough.

The Capital Weather Gang says “a  lobe of the polar vortex will dive into the Northeast by Saturday and push temperatures 20 to 25 degrees below average. On Friday night, overnight lows will fall into the mid to upper 30s as a clipper low pressure system surges down from the Midwest. Snow showers and flurries are possible early Saturday morning.”

Saturday may also see winds from 40 to 55 mph, forecasters say.

CWG says the cold front will bring even colder temps, falling to the mid 20s in Fairfax County late Saturday. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch from late Saturday night to Sunday morning. It is reminding Northern Virginia to protect tender plants from the cold.

“For many, these temperatures could rank among the coldest on record so late in the season,” reports the CWG.

If Dulles International Airport drops to 23 degrees or lower it will be one of the top-5 coldest mornings there so late in the season. Below 25 degreeswould rank in the top 10, says the CWG.

The coldest temperature on record this late in the month was 19 degrees on April 10, 1985.

The blizzard of late January is but a memory, save for a few piles of snow that still remain — despite temperatures near 80 degrees — about six weeks later.

The one big storm of the winter dumped about three feet of snow on Reston Jan. 23-24. People dug out within a day or two — but snowplows made piles on some streets and sidewalks that reached six feet or more.

A few piles remain. Take this one at the corner of Ridge Heights Road and Cobblestone Lane, where a few kids (wearing shorts, because it was unseasonably warm Wednesday) pelted each other with snowballs while waiting for the school bus this morning.

Dulles International Airport tied its all-time high for March 9, reaching 79 degrees at 1 p.m.