Weather

Flood Watch Takes Effect Tonight

A flood watch will take effect at 6:00 tonight as heavy rains move into our area from the southwest.

A steady, soaking, all-day rain and and gusty winds should make for an unpleasant Thursday. Officials are warning anyone who lives in low-lying or flood-prone areas to be “prepared to take action should flood develop.”

FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING…

THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND EASTERN MARYLAND… THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA… EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.

* FROM 6 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING

* PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THIS EVENING INTO THURSDAY. BY THE TIME THE FRONT CLEARS THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT… UP TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE.

* THE FORECASTED RAINFALL AMOUNTS LIKELY WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS… AS WELL AS CAUSE SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS. THE RUNOFF WOULD THEN CREATE SIGNIFICANT RISES ON AREA RIVERS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.