More Powerful Storms Threaten VA Wednesday

Significant flooding and damaging winds are possible Wednesday evening as another round of potentially powerful storms takes aim on the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region, forecasters warn.

The storms will be capable of dropping as much as 3 inches of rain an hour across the region, which has been hit by rainfall and lightning earlier this week, the National Weather Service said.

A flood watch is in place until midnight for areas including, the District of Columbia, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford and Spotsylvania.

"Numerous showers and thunderstorms will move across the area this afternoon and evening. Rainfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour are possible, which may lead to scattered instances
of flash flooding where the heavy rain persists the longest," the NWS said.

Areas in the "enhance risk" portion of this map (marked in yellow) are most at risk for the greatest impacts from the storms.

A severe thunderstorm watch issued at 2 p.m. is in effect until 10 p.m. for much of the same area, including the District of Columbia, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford.

"Storms are likely toward evening and could be more intense than yesterday," The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said. "The National Weather Service is warning of the potential for locally significant flooding and damaging winds, and has issued a flood watch and severe thunderstorm watch."

Additional rounds of showers and storms are forecast through the end of the week.

The latest forecast comes after severe storms swept through the region Tuesday night, prompting multiple severe thunderstorm warnings.

Here's the Northern Virginia forecast from the National Weather Service:

This Afternoon: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog before 11pm, then patchy fog after midnight. Low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2pm and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: A chance of showers between 8am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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