The federal government closed Friday morning due to high wind and resulting issues like power outages and fear of accidents, the Office of Personnel Management stated.
The powerful storm barreling toward the Northeast resulted in cooler temperatures and wind gusts over 60 MPH, classifying it as an extreme storm in the Washington, D.C., area.
Commuter trains Virginia Railway Express and the Maryland Rail Commuter were canceled, and the Metro was running slower during the above-ground sections. Most area schools were closed, as is the D.C. government, but federal employees who are approved for telework may work from home, GovExec reports.
At least 140,000 residents of Northern Virginia were without power due to the downed power lines, according to InsideNOVA.
My kids’ school is closed down today because of … wind.
— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) March 2, 2018
Wind stations at Dulles International Airport clocked winds at 67 MPH, and Gaithersburg, Md., stations reported 69 MPH gusts according to the National Weather Service.
Fessenden St is closed at River Rd NW for downed tree. The wind is here! pic.twitter.com/nWPLWndJSs
— Megan McGrath (@MeganMcGrath4) March 2, 2018
ALSO WATCH:
While the roads are fairly clear with residents staying home from work, some streets were blocked with fallen debris and downed trees. Emergency crews responded to an emergency when a tree fell on the home of a 100-year-old woman in Kensington, Md.
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