Strong Wind — Fairfax (c), Virginia

2000-04-09 · near Fairfax, Fairfax (c), Virginia

Event narrative

Trees were downed.

Wider weather episode

A cold front that crossed the Mid-Atlantic region during the afternoon of the 8th was accompanied by strong winds. Sowers that developed ahead and along the cold front brought winds in excess of 45 MPH to the surface, producing damage to trees, power lines, and a building under construction. Fallen tree limbs took out two sets of power lines in Alexandria and near Springfield in Fairfax County. A partially constructed townhouse near Huntington in Fairfax County collapsed after being hit by strong winds. A wind gust of 51 MPH was recorded at Washington Reagan National Airport that afternoon. Temperatures dropped more than 20 degrees within an hour after the cold front passed. Above 2500 feet in Shenandoah National Park, temperatures dropped below freezing. This caused a changeover from rain to snow early on the 9th and by sunrise 2 to 4 inches of snow accumulated along Skyline Drive. Strong winds continued behind the cold front from the evening of the 8th through the afternoon of the 9th. Northwest winds gusting over 35 MPH brought down additional trees and power lines in Alexandria, Fairfax City, and across Fairfax County. Over 2500 customers lost power. A wind gust of 44 MPH was recorded at Dulles International Airport that morning. In Winchester, 1200 residents lost power after a tree was downed onto power lines on South Pleasant Valley Road.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5140831. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.