Best derecho strategies?

[PotomacCyclist]

Should I connect a large sail to my bike? And water skis to the bottom of my tires? Maybe a lightning rod on the top of my helmet, with a ground wire trailing behind me? And lead weights to keep me grounded when I get hit by 50 mph wind gusts?

Two waves of storms expected, the first from 8 am to 12 noon, the second between 4 and 8 pm or so.

From NBC4:

“There will be 2 chances for storms today. The first chance arrives in the viewing area this morning. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH has been posted until 11AM. This first batch of storms is capable of producing 40-50mph wind gusts, frequent lightning and brief periods of heavy rain. This first area of storms will arrive between 8-10 this morning and leave the area by noontime.

The threat for severe weather is MUCH higher this afternoon and evening as a 2nd wave of storms approaches. The timing of the second round of storms will come between 4-8PM. The combination of daytime heating and Jet Stream energy means that the 2nd round COULD be far more damaging. Wind gusts could reach 60-80mph and TORNADOES will be possible. Also, depending on how much rain we see from the morning storms, Flash Flooding will be possible. Remember to avoid fast moving and fast rising water.”

Topic

[KelOnWheels]

“Worst of storm coming thru to target N Fairfax, MoCo and District. Will race thru next 30-45 mins. Dangerous storm.”

Be safe!

[consularrider]

4 pm and I can’t see Key Bridge from my 9th floor at Wilson/Lynn. Sheets of heavy rain and strong wind. Think I stay inside for a little while longer.

[consularrider]

Whew, all clear.

[Arlingtonrider]

It raced through Shirlington in about thirty seconds. Not even raining now. I think Arlington pretty much lucked out.

[PotomacCyclist]

Latest update from NBC4 Storm Weather Team:

“Worst of the weather is OVER in DC Metro. Still a risk of rain showers this evening but nothing to worry about.”

[KLizotte]

Well, that was anti-climatic to say the least. Had my popcorn out and everything. Monday was far more dramatic.

[DaveK]

[PotomacCyclist]

There are reports of tornadoes in Laurel and Columbia earlier in the afternoon. A large tree came down in Arlington but I don’t think anyone was injured. Power is also out in some areas in Northern Virginia, 18,000 people without power. Another large tree down near Dupont Circle, crashing down on a car. No one was injured in that crash either.

38,000 without power in Montgomery Co.

There were 1,000 lightning strikes in 10 minutes at one point, according to NBC4.

It doesn’t seem as bad as last year’s derecho, but there is still some damage in the greater D.C. region.

Flash flooding remains a risk.

[jnva]

Be careful at the bottom of brandymore castle. It’s very muddy and slick

[Vicegrip]

Nice ride in and out today. No Rule 9 invocation needed due to lucky timing. Some leaves and sticks on W&OD west of Gallows but mostly steam and damp bunnies.

[dasgeh]

@consularrider 55122 wrote:

4 pm and I can’t see Key Bridge from my 9th floor at Wilson/Lynn. Sheets of heavy rain and strong wind. Think I stay inside for a little while longer.

Had you been able to, you would have seen me. Ok, not on the Key Bridge, but on the TR Bridge.

Unlike this morning, I had THE WORST timing. Thinking that it was either going north of my route, or was going to hold off a little longer, I ventured our around 4-ish. Got to the TR Bridge no problem. When I was over the actual island (still on the bridge sidepath), the wind picked up. As in: “stop the bike and turn around because there’s a wall of dirt flying at you at high speed” picked up. Wind died down and somehow I dropped my chain when starting up again. The rain started while I was fixing it. Luckily, it was just lots of big drops of rain, so I rode the brakes down to the TR parking lot. Stopped under a tree to tell a guy that maybe we should get away from the lowest part of the ride. By the time I was on the bridge over the GW Pkwy, the rain had slowed. By the time I got to Lee & Lynn, the rain had stopped. Saw a handful of other very wet riders who were caught out with me.

So I got VERY WET. Lesson: you may luck out with Mother Nature once a day, but don’t push your luck.

[PotomacCyclist]

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From NBC4:

“Dramatic storm cloud rolling over Key Bridge in DC this afternoon… pic by Twitter follower Lizzy Owens”

[Rod Smith]

@PotomacCyclist 55142 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3093[/ATTACH]

From NBC4:

“Dramatic storm cloud rolling over Key Bridge in DC this afternoon… pic by Twitter follower Lizzy Owens”

Dramatic photo but that line dumped heavy rain in DC for less than ten minutes.

[PotomacCyclist]

True. But it still looks like Zeus attacking Rosslyn.

[creadinger]

Ok, so the derecho didn’t happen and the severe threat may have been overblown (for some of us) yesterday, despite the fact that there was at least 1 confirmed tornado. This 1-minute interval satellite loop shows the line of storms advancing down into VA and NC.
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/130613_g14_vis_srso_damaging_winds_shelf_cloud_VA_NC_anim.gif

As it gets to central and SE VA it looks like a freakin snowplow of boiling atmospheric violence.

[Author]

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