Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
There were thunderstorms and lightning over the field. PCT was still running arrivals. There were also windshear alarms. I advised the Supervisor to tell PCT that I need the approaches staggered; because if my aircraft went around; they could not go south or east. They would have to turn west towards the other arrival runway. I saw the Supervisor go on the line to call them. About 10 minutes later PCT not only put the [Runway] 19L and [Runway] 19C side by side; they also put a [Runway] 19R side by side. So we had 3 aircraft on the finals; on visual approaches side by side. At this point I could not see the end of the runways. I told the aircraft that there were 2 aircraft to their right; and that there was windshear. I asked the aircraft if he wanted to break off the approach since if he had to go-around; they would have to turn the aircraft east into the weather. I found out from the Local Control 3 Controller that he told the [Runway] 19C aircraft if he had to go-around; they had to fly south into the weather. This was a very unsafe operation; especially with windshear. Luckily my aircraft landed safely. If he had to go-around he would have had to fly into a thunderstorm. There was plenty of room for PCT to vector the aircraft for staggered approaches. Give PCT a class on the effects of flying into a thunderstorm. Give PCT a class on understanding what aircraft have to do to avoid weather. Give PCT a class on aircraft accidents; so they understand what could happen if an aircraft flies into weather or has to turn away towards other traffic in IFR conditions; since over the field was IFR at that time. Give PCT a class on understanding that air traffic control is based on having outs if something goes wrong and not relying on LUCK. Give PCT a class on listening to the Tower when they tell them they need this for safety.
IAD Controller expressed concern regarding PCT's alleged failure to consider weather and other traffic factors during a significant thunderstorm/lightning event; noting PCT's performance was unsafe.