Storms Sweep Through D.C.; Man Killed While Biking
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- Wicked weather in Washington. For a second night in a row, severe thunderstorms pounded the D.C. metro area, killing one man and leaving thousands in the dark.
Andrea Fujii shows us the damage.
Families are cleaning up from a monstrous storm.
"In the 10 years I've lived here, this was the most violent storm. I mean, the wind had the trees literally bending, I would say," said one person.
North Arlington between the Yorktown and Chesterbrook neighborhoods was the hardest hit.
"It was unbelievable. The push of the wind was like a tidal wave coming from that direction," said a witness.
The force of the wind snapped utility poles and sheered trees.
"The trees in my backyard were hitting my window. I ran downstairs and looked outside and there were trees all over the neighborhood," said one person.
There was also lightning which downed power lines and blocked roads.
A park ranger in Montgomery County says it was that lightning that may have taken down a tree along the C&O Canal, which then fell on a 56-year-old man riding his bike. He died at the scene.
The storm also forced the evacuation of the National Mall as thousands of people showed up for a rehearsal of the Capitol Fourth of July Concert.
Instead, there was Mother Nature's fireworks.
"My mom was telling us to get downstairs and when I was going downstairs, I saw a blue flash," said a witness.
Thousands of customers were left without power.
