The D.C. area has been recovering from late Thursday’s thunderstorm and tornado that downed several trees and caused power outages, as well as impacting the National Mall.
Some of the trees along the National Mall were damaged, the National Park Service announced on Friday. The tree damage extended from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument and around the Tidal Basin and Hains Point.
“Winds of 70 to 80 mph raked Mall,” according to the Washington Post, which added that evidence was “inconclusive” for tornado.
In the wake of this afternoon’s storm, there is widespread tree damage from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument and around the Tidal Basin and Hains Point. Crews are in the scene to begin cleanup. Please be careful as you move around the National Mall this evening. pic.twitter.com/q1mLJS5g5q
— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) May 23, 2019
The storm caused the Washington Monument mulberry tree to loosen from its temporary support and to sustain extra damage to its limbs, the Fox 5 D.C. reported, adding that the tree had fallen in early May because of water saturation.
Some residents complained about power outages, while a number of businesses had to take a day off due to blackouts.
https://twitter.com/sophiammiller_/status/1131782076796219392
❗️ALERT UPDATE❗️Due to a local power outage, our store and donation center at Annandale Road, VA will remain closed for the day (5/24). We hope to reopen tomorrow for normal business hours, and apologize for any inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/URzjaOx6wf
— DC Goodwill (@dcgoodwill) May 24, 2019
This power outage is creepy and giving me insomnia & anxiety.
— Desirea Johnson (@Desi_in_DC) May 24, 2019
My power has been out since 3:30!
— Blue Ivy’s Au Pair (@OMGitsDee0621) May 24, 2019
Washington, DC. We had a bad 30 min storm that wiped all the power out part of the city for 12 hours.
— Blue Ivy’s Au Pair (@OMGitsDee0621) May 24, 2019
Some others, on the other hand, tried to look on the “bright side” of the power failures, saying that people have become friendlier towards each other.
https://twitter.com/JKintz/status/1131735068307857410
A tornado warning had been issued by the Weather Service for D.C. at 3:47 p.m. on Thursday. Throughout the day, 19 thunderstorm warnings were issued, along with two tornado warnings, relating to the D.C. region.