Two dead after severe storms blast Northern Virginia

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – Two radical were killed Friday arsenic terrible thunderstorms swept done the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, producing near-hurricane-force upwind gusts, lightning and torrential rainfall.

The storms caused wide harm and knocked retired powerfulness to hundreds of thousands crossed Northern Virginia, D.C., and Maryland.

According to archetypal responders, the astir harm came from falling trees, with dozens of reports from crossed the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 2 abstracted incidents successful Fairfax County, toppled trees led to fatal crashes, which were being investigated by police.

The Storm Prediction Center issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the portion and noted that the country was astatine hazard for hail and damaging winds.

One of the highest upwind gusts was recorded astatine Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, wherever winds reached 69 mph, the National Weather Service reported.

Tree down successful Fairfax County, VA.

(Fairfax County / FOX Weather)

AT LEAST 4 KILLED IN ST. LOUIS METRO AFTER TORNADO-WARNED STORM CAUSES EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

According to outage tracking data, astir 200,000 customers were without energy crossed the D.C. country by precocious Friday, with the hardest-hit areas being Fairfax and Alexandria successful Northern Virginia.

In respective neighborhoods astir the capital, ample limbs landed connected vehicles and homes, but determination were nary further reports of important injuries.

Despite ominous clouds, nary tornadoes were reported successful the D.C. country arsenic of Friday evening, raising the anticipation that microbursts were liable for immoderate of the damage.

D.C. country upwind radar connected 5/16/2025

(Iowa Mesonet / FOX Weather)

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Most of the tornadic enactment was concentrated farther west, successful parts of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, wherever the SPC received astir 2 twelve reports of twisters passim the day.

The FOX Forecast Center warned that different circular of storms could get connected Saturday arsenic the tempest strategy implicit the heartland moves eastward.

St. Louis constabulary reported 4 radical were killed, and respective others injured arsenic terrible storms raced done eastbound Missouri, triggering Tornado Warnings.

Dust tempest hits Chicago

A Dust Storm Warning was issued for Chicago connected Friday arsenic almighty winds stirred up particulate opening successful Central Illinois.