After being struck by lightning on Thursday night near the White House, four people are in critical condition at the hospital.
A severe thunderstorm warning for the region, which included Washington, D.C., Arlington, Virginia, and Alexandria, Virginia, was in effect until 7:15 p.m. EDT.
"Just before 5:30 p.m. this evening, thunderstorms began to develop across the Washington, D.C. area," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alyson Hoegg.
"Reagan National Airport recorded severe winds with gusts of 50 to 60 mph as thunderstorms moved slowly across the region.
Between 6 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, numerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were seen over the region in addition to the severe winds."
A six-stroke lightning flash happened at 6:49 p.m. EDT, a meteorologist, lightning data and safety specialist, and member of the National Lightning Safety Council.
The four victims, according to the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, which is situated just outside the White House compound.
All of them were sent to nearby hospitals in serious condition. Emergency personnel were still on the site Thursday evening, so a section of the park was still restricted.
Just before 7 o'clock in the evening, emergency medical personnel were called to the scene and brought the victims to the hospital with "severe, life-threatening injuries
While emergency personnel were on the scene Thursday evening, a section of the park remained closed for more than an hour.
As soon as they saw the lightning strike, Secret Service and U.S. Park Police officers rushed to provide first assistance, according to authorities.