Heavy Rain — Fairfax (c), Virginia

2000-03-21 · near Countywide, Fairfax (c), Virginia

Wider weather episode

Low pressure moved from the Ohio Valley on the 20th to the Mid-Atlantic region on the 21st. East winds ahead of the system ushered moist air into the region directly from the Atlantic Ocean. When the low passed through the area on the morning and afternoon of the 21st heavy rain fell east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Temperatures were cold enough in the mountains that most of the precipitation fell in the form of snow. Rainfall amounts east to the mountains ranged from 1 to 3 inches, and up to 7 inches of snow fell in the mountains. Along Skyline Drive, up to 3/4 of an inch of freezing rain accumulated during the morning of the 21st before changing over to rain during the afternoon. Park officials reported downed tees and power lines. Rainfall totals included 2.37 inches at Montebello in Nelson County, 2.32 inches at Tom's Branch in Augusta County, 2.28 inches at Briery Branch in Rockingham County, 2.20 inches at Lewis Mountain Camp in Page County, 2.16 inches at Limeton in Warren County, 2.14 inches in Falls Church, 2.03 inches at Sterling in Loudoun County, and 1.99 inches at National Airport in Arlington. Snowfall totals included up to 7 inches in the highest elevations of Highland and western Rockingham Counties, 3 inches in Monterey, 2 inches in Deerfield, and 1 inch in Staunton.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5136373. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.