Flash Flooding Risk Looms With Latest Round Of Storms

VIRGINIA — Northern Virginia faces another flood watch as flash flooding becomes a risk with another round of storms that could drop up to 3 inches of rain during the strongest storms.

The National Weather Service expects showers and thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon through the early evening. Some thunderstorms could produce heavy rainfall, with a rate of 1 to 2 inches within an hour, and localized higher totals.

The flood watch runs through 8 p.m. Wednesday. Isolated severe storms are capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail, according to National Weather Service forecasters.

Forecasters say heavy rain in a short amount of time creates a flash flooding risk. Areas with creeks, streams, low-lying areas and flood-prone urban areas are especially vulnerable to flash flooding.

In Northern Virginia, the flood watch applies to Fairfax County, Arlington County, Falls Church, Alexandria, Loudoun County, northwest, central and southeast Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.

In between storms, things are heating up in the region. The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang notes that Wednesday brings high humidity and temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s. Thursday's highs could reach the 90s, with a real-feel heat index in the mid-90s before another chance of storms in the afternoon and evening.

Forecasters expect conditions to clear up over the weekend, with temperatures reaching the 80s and 90s. Temperatures could continue to reach the 90s next week, with a chance of approaching a scorching 100.

Here's the weather ahead from the National Weather Service at Dulles International Airport:

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. West wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 72.

Thursday, Juneteenth: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. At night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 65. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent at night.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 91. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 70.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 74.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 75.