Up To 4 Inches Of Rain Possible During Flash Flood Watch In NoVA And DC

WASHINGTON, DC — Up to 4 inches of rain may fall in parts of northern Virginia and the District of Columbia Wednesday night into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, which placed the region under a flash flood watch.

Heavy rain will likely start falling late Wednesday night and be the most widespread through Thursday afternoon.

The flash flood watch takes effect at 5 a.m. and runs through 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23.

About 1 to 2 inches of rain will likely fall on average, with up to 4 inches of localized amounts possible, according to the National Weather Service.

"Multiple rounds of showers and scattered thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rain are expected through Thursday afternoon," the National Weather Service said. "The most widespread heavy rain is most likely late tonight through early Thursday afternoon. Heavy rain falling over increasingly saturated ground may result in flash flooding."

Flash flooding is a rapid rise in water level that may be life-threatening.

These areas are under the flash flood watch: District of Columbia, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Loudoun, Herndon, Chantilly, Centreville, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, McLean, Reston, Franconia, and Annandale.

Much of Maryland is also under a flash flood watch.

Showers and thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado could occur Thursday, according to a hazardous weather outlook for the region.

See the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

Wednesday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 67. Southeast wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 75. Southeast wind 7 to 13 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday night: A chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind around 6 mph.