Flood Watch In Effect As Severe Storms Bring Damaging Winds To MD

MARYLAND — Flash flooding, severe thunderstorms and damaging winds are forecast for Maryland on Sunday. A flood watch is in effect until 10 p.m., the National Weather Service said, with up to 4 inches of rain possible in a few areas.

Torrential rainfall and severe thunderstorms are slated to begin around 1 p.m., with flash flooding, winds up to 70 mph and hourly rainfall rates of 2 inches or more possible.

“Thunderstorms capable of producing very heavy rainfall are expected across the watch area this afternoon into this evening. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches will be common,with isolated totals in excess of 4 inches possible. This heavy rainfall may lead to rapid rises of water on creeks, streams, urban and poor drainage areas, and in other flood-prone locations,” the National Weather Service Baltimore-DC office said in a statement.

Portions of DC and Maryland under the flood watch include: District of Columbia, plus Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Howard, Montgomery, Charles, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Prince George's and St. Marys counties.

Communities in the flood watch include: Baltimore, Rockville, Annapolis, California, Gaithersburg, Camp Springs, Jarrettsville, Frederick, Greenbelt, Germantown, Bowie, Columbia, Laurel, Odenton, Glen Burnie, Elkton, Chesapeake Beach, Reisterstown, Eldersburg, Severna Park, Westminster, Suitland-Silver Hill, Severn, Cockeysville, North Beach, Aberdeen, Waldorf, College Park, Ellicott City, Silver Spring and Arnold.

Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, the NWS said. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for northeast Maryland including Carroll, Cecil, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Harford counties and the surrounding waters until 8 p.m. Severe thunderstorms are likely with the main hazard being damaging wind gusts.

Visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness information.

Storms are possible through Monday night, then skies clear as heat moves back in with high temperatures above 90 degrees by Tuesday, the weather service said.

Here's the Maryland forecast for the first half of the week, according to the National Weather Service:

Sunday Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. High near 84. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 3am, then a slight chance of showers after 3am. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog between 1am and 3am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 71. North wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Northwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.