The National Weather Service office in Baltimore/Washington has expanded a Flood Watch and Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms westward to cover additional portions of the Shenandoah Valley and the I-81 corridor.
A surface front and a strong shortwave moving from the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys will bring widespread thunderstorm activity to the region through Friday. Ample moisture from a tropical air mass, with precipitable water values of 2 to 2.25 inches, will support heavy rainfall.
Prince William County supervisors just delivered a major blow to another massive data center project. On July 7, 2026, the Board unanimously rejected the Dulles South Innovation Center in Gainesville — a proposed 43-million-square-foot industrial data center campus. This comes days after the long-fought Prince William Digital Gateway near the Manassas National Battlefield was also defeated.
In this episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, Uriah Kiser breaks down what these rejections mean for Northern Virginia residents facing skyrocketing utility costs, traffic, water usage, and loss of rural character. County staff cited infrastructure failures, environmental impacts, and incompatibility with agricultural and hamlet areas. Residents spoke out against noise, pollution, and data centers backing directly onto homes.
Following hours of public debate, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted on July 7, 2026, to deny a Comprehensive Plan Amendment that would have paved the way for the Dulles South Innovation Center (also referred to as Dulles Cloud South or Dulles Innovation South), a data center campus proposed for the Gainesville District.
The decision comes days after the death of the Prince William Digital Gateway project, halting another industrial push in western Prince William County amid concerns over infrastructure, character, and quality of life.
Join me during this National Craft Open Studios weekend, a celebration of Amrican craft organized by the American Craft Council (ACC). Come visit my studio July 18-19th, 11am-5pm at 10449 Metropolitan Ave, Kensington, MD. Please drop in, see how my work is created, tour my studio and try your hand at hammering some metal.
During the Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on July 7, 2026, Supervisor Crystal Vanuch (Rock Hill District) expressed strong concerns about the potential reimplementation of a Business Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax, warning that it could harm local small businesses and urging residents to participate in an upcoming public hearing.
Vanuch, who reviewed discussions from a recent work session she could not attend, stated she was “appalled” that the tax appeared to be moving forward. She noted that Spotsylvania County is actively working to eliminate its similar BPOL tax. “The general consensus is that it’s gonna crush our business growth in Stafford County,” she said.
Signal Bay Waterpark will be closed Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9, 2026, due to repairs in the activity pool, according to an announcement from the Manassas Park Community Center. The facility is scheduled to reopen Friday morning.
The 27,000-square-foot aquatic facility at 9300 Signal View Drive in Signal Hill Park features a zero-depth leisure pool, slides, water cannons, and a lazy river. It remains a popular summer destination for families in the area.
Prince William County reported that in June 2026, the Prince William Narcotics Task Force, along with the Prince William County Police Department, Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, Virginia State Police, North Carolina Highway Patrol, ATF, and DEA, conducted a joint investigation into illegal manufacturing and distribution of psilocybin and THC products at the Rat Pack Clubhouse at 13621 Richmond Highway in Woodbridge.
The probe, sparked by anonymous complaints, led to searches at five locations, including the clubhouse, resulting in significant seizures and arrests.
Prince William County Parks and Recreation reported that the new sprayground at Catharpin Recreational Park is now open following a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning attended by community members, Parks and Recreation staff, Director Seth Hendler-Voss, and Gainesville District Supervisor George Stewart.
The fenced sprayground, located next to the playground, features a fun sports theme with multiple sprayers and is free for everyone to enjoy this summer in Prince William County.
Residents across Northern Virginia should expect a mostly cloudy day with periods of showers on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Baltimore-Washington, D.C. office. Low clouds, patchy fog, and isolated showers will dominate the morning hours.
High temperatures will remain below average for early July, generally reaching the upper 70s to low 80s in most spots, with a high near 84 possible in warmer locations. Winds will be light from the east at 3 to 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is around 30%, with most of the day’s convection expected to remain west of U.S. 15.
A combination of a stalled frontal boundary and a persistent tropical air mass will increase the risk of flash flooding in central Virginia this afternoon and evening.
Flood Watches have been issued for much of central Virginia, extending northward along the I-81 corridor into eastern West Virginia. Residents in low-lying areas, near streams and rivers, and in urban areas with poor drainage should remain alert for rapidly rising water levels.
