Driving rain and whipping winds tore across the Washington region Tuesday morning, drenching pedestrians, interrupting a VDOT news conference, and forcing Redskins (web|news) fans to leave mini-camp.

Officials and media scrambled for cover as the storm threatened to blow over the tent at the groundbreaking for HOT lanes in Tysons Corner. Men and women grabbed on to the tent and the support barrels to keep it from blowing over.

"Get everybody out of here!" shouted one man.

No one was hurt.

At Redskin Park, fans gathered to watch the team's practice were forced to take cover as the storm approached.

"Wanted to get to the car cause the clouds are getting dark and the trees look like they are about to break -- it's a little scary," said one fan.

In Fauquier County, Virginia, lightning struck a tree, splitting it into three pieces and causing the bark to explode. ABC 7 News iWitness Pat Alberico of Marshall sent in a picture of the tree. Albreico writes that the bolt struck about 9:30 a.m.

The storm did bring some temporary relief from the heat, dropping the mercury a couple of degrees.

"It is so much cooler. I love it," said Accokeek resident Tiffany Porter.

But it couldn't last long. By mid-afternoon, the temperatures had returned to

"It's still hot; feels the same," said one pedestrian.