Flood Watch Issued For NoVA, DC As Storms May Bring Heavy Rains

WASHINGTON, DC — Flash flooding from excessive rainfall will be a threat for portions of Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., on Sunday and Monday. A flood watch is in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday, the National Weather Service said, with 2 inches of rain or more possible in a few areas.

“Heavy rainfall will move through the area this evening into the overnight hours, leading to scattered instances of flash flooding,” the National Weather Service Baltimore-DC office said Sunday. "Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations."

Portions of DC and Virginia under the flood watch include: the District of Columbia, plus Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Stafford, Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Annandale, Lake Ridge, Dale City, Herndon, Reston, Chantilly, Alexandria, Franconia, Falmouth, Woodbridge, Centreville, and McLean.

Communities in the flood watch include: Rockville, Annapolis, Bowie, Aberdeen, Columbia, Bethesda, Laurel, Odenton, Severn, South Gate, College Park, Gaithersburg, Camp Springs, Severna Park, Arnold, Suitland-Silver Hill, Silver Spring, Greenbelt, Glen Burnie, and Ellicott City.

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

Heavy rains are possible again Monday, and a slight chance for strong storms exists overnight for areas west of I-95. Tuesday’s severe threat is more widespread for the entire region, the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said.

"While we could see thunderstorms and downpours almost anytime during the afternoon and evening hours, the chances for the strongest storms — and highest flooding potentials — may focus on the 5 to 10 p.m. window" on Tuesday, the Post said. "Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds, heavy rain and maybe a tornado. Even outside of thunderstorms, southwesterly winds could gust near 30 mph."

Visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness information.
Storms are possible through Tuesday night, then skies clear as heat moves back in, with high temperatures around 90 degrees by Saturday, the weather service said.

Here's the DC/Northern Virginia forecast for the first half of the week, according to the National Weather Service:

Sunday: Scattered showers after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. High near 90. South wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 5am, then a slight chance of showers. Low around 73. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.