Hurricane-Force Gust Blows Through Reston

More than 450,000 Dominion Virginia Power customers are still without electricity at 7 a.m. on Saturday after the brief-but-dangerous storm moved through the area around 10:30 p.m. on Friday.

A wind gust of 79 mph was measured in Reston during that time. For comparison, wind is considered hurricane force at 75 mph. The force knocked down trees and caused other damage to Reston properties.

The National Weather Service confirms that the storm was a derecho. According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, a derecho "is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to that of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath."

At one point lat Friday, more than a million homes and businesses in the DC/VA/MD area were without power. Two Fairfax County fatalities were reported in the Springfield area: A falling tree struck a car at Old Keene Mill Road and Bauer Drive, killing the male driver and a 90-year-old woman, who was sleeping, was killed after a tree fell on her house.

Power outages in Reston were widespread Friday night. The lost power, and people on social media reported being in the dark at the or at restaurants.

Speaking on NBC4 at 6:40 a.m. Saturday, Dominon spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson urged patience as it could take days to restore power in some Northern Virginia neighborhoods.

That is not welcome news as the temperatures are expected to rise to a record 100 degrees Saturday.

What's it like in your neighborhood? Tell your neighbors of any trees blocking roads, and upload any storm damage pictures. You can also keep in touch through Facebook and Twitter.