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40 people rescued from cars on flooded George Washington Parkway

Arlington Fire Department crews helped rescue 40 people from their flooded vehicles on the George Washington Parkway Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
Arlington County Fire Department crews helped rescue 40 people from their flooded vehicles on the George Washington Parkway Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
(Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
Arlington County Fire Department crews used boats to reach and rescue motorists stranded on the George Washington Parkway Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
Arlington County Fire Department crews used boats to reach and rescue motorists stranded on the George Washington Parkway Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
(Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
(Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
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Arlington Fire Department crews helped rescue 40 people from their flooded vehicles on the George Washington Parkway Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
Arlington County Fire Department crews used boats to reach and rescue motorists stranded on the George Washington Parkway Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)

WASHINGTON — Arlington County Fire Department crews helped rescue 40 people from their flooded vehicles on the George Washington Parkway after heavy rain left standing water on the roadway Tuesday afternoon.

The flooding and response closed the parkway in both directions in Arlington between Bashford Lane and Reagan National Airport as rain rapidly fell around the region. All lanes reopened around 5:15 p.m.

Arlington County Fire Department showing a row of vehicles with water up to their doors on the GW Parkway at Reagan Airport. “Avoid GW PKWY!!!” the department tweeted around 4:15 p.m.

Fire crews used boats to rescue the people stranded in the 25 vehicles. All of the people were rescued by 5 p.m., the fire department tweeted.

There were no injuries or medical emergencies reported, the department said.

Heavy thunderstorms moved through the region Tuesday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City in Maryland until 6 p.m.; a flood warning has been issued for Arlington County, D.C., Fairfax County and Alexandria until 6:30 p.m.

Conditions are continuing to change; stay with ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ for the latest traffic and weather updates.

Sarah Beth Hensley

Sarah Beth Hensley is the Digital ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ Director at ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½. She has worked several different roles since she began with ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ in 2013 and has contributed to award-winning stories and coverage on the website.

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