This Week's Weather: Partly Cloudy with Highs in Mid-70s

Chances for rain mainly on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Northern Virginia residents will make do this week with partly cloudy days and chances for rain and thunderstorms before hitting the weather jackpot on Friday. Temperatures this week will dance around 75 degrees, the average high for May in Northern Virginia. On Monday, The Weather Channel predicts a high of 73 degrees, increasing to 76 on Tuesday, and 74 on Wednesday with that threat of rain. Temperatures will dip into the high 60s or low 70s for the rest of the week. The area could see a few showers on Tuesday (30 percent chance) and Wednesday (40 percent chance). Thunder and lightning could be part of the mix both days, according to The Capital Weather Gang. Friday may be sunny with a high of about 70 degrees, according to several …

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'Mother Nature Will Always Have the Last Word'

As damage assessments roll in, officials say it could have been worse.

Hurricane Irene, President Obama said in the days preceding the storm, was shaping up to be a "historic hurricane."  And it was, in some ways. To anyone with a flood-damaged home in Vermont, or stuck on the wrong side of an impassable bridge in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, it's historic.  Officials up and down the eastern seaboard are still conducting preliminary damage assessments. In the D.C. region, damage was less-than-historic. After a long day of rain and gusty winds, Irene left thousands without power and hundreds of downed trees, but the capital and the surrounding areas were spared both the dangerous storm surges pushed ahead of the hurricane and the stronger winds on the eastern side of Irene. "What happened was that we …

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Patch Blogroll

Surf Report: Must-See Arlington Websites

A look back on desegreation, Hurricane Irene's damage and how the county can grow green.

Here's this week's installment of Web locations of interest to Arlington County:

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Irene Leaves Scattered Damage Behind in Arlington; Many Unscathed

Sunday saw sunny skies and a lot of cleaning up. About 4,300 homes remain without power as of 6:40 p.m.

A clear sky and 80-degree weather brought Arlingtonians out from hiding Sunday, as what's now Tropical Storm Irene moved north -- giving businesses a boost and homeowners a chance to clean up debris. Harry's Tap Room had a busy afternoon Sunday -- a big help after a slow Saturday night, one that saw the bar close early thanks to Irene. "We didn't lose power, and this morning everything around us that was supposed to be open was open," said Rodney Flowers, a host at the popular Clarendon restaurant. Whitlow's on Wilson also emerged from the storm unscathed. Even the rooftop bar evaded damage and opened for business Sunday aternoon. "We locked everything down," Assistant General Manager Nadim Kouttab said. "We moved anything that could have …

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Irene Images from Virginia Beach

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Hurricane Irene: Weekend Cancellations, Closings

Patch will update this list throughout the weekend for closings all across the region

Here's a list of area cancellations and closings in response to Hurricane Irene: ALL WEEKEND SATURDAY SUNDAY TRANSPORTATION Planes, trains and automobiles (or buses): All are being impacted by Hurricane Irene. Check for updated information through the links below prior to leaving on your trip this weekend: Do you know of a cancellation? Tell us in the comment section or email briank@patch.com

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Erica R. Hendry

9:44 am on Saturday, August 27, 2011

From Metro (This could change as the day goes on): Based on current National Weather Service forecasts, Metro is planning to operate on a regular weekend schedule on Saturday, August 27. There are currently no planned service changes as a result of weather. Metro's Operations Control Center is continuously monitoring conditions and receiving updates from the National Weather Service. Should any …   more ›

UPDATE: McDonnell Gives Local Governments Power to Order Evacuations

State resources made available as a precautionary measure

UPDATE (5:12 p.m.): Gov. Bob McDonnell has given local governments the authority to order mandatory evacuations as they see fit. He said he chose to empower local governments to be able to make the decision because "they are closer to the action and know what resources they've got and the specific terrain in their areas." McDonnell retains the right to order evacuations, and local and state authorities have been working together for days. "It's important for everyone to understand that Hurricane Irene is a very dangerous storm," he said. "... It is estimated to be a Category 2 or Category 3, but like all storms this far away with warm water between its current location and the Virginia border, there is always the potential for significant …

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