Weather

Flash Flood Watch Issued for Arlington, Region

Columbia Pike is flooded by a downpour / heavy rain (file photo)Get ready for a wet weekend. A coastal nor’easter is expected to bring torrential rainfall throughout most of Friday and Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Arlington and the rest of the D.C. region, starting Friday morning. More watches and warnings are expected to be issued as Hurricane Joaquin nears, on the back of the nor’easter.

From the NWS:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH
* FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.
* RAIN WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. WIDESPREAD RAIN TOTALS OF TWO TO FOUR INCHES ARE EXPECTED… WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. HEAVY RAIN COULD FALL OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ON SATURATED SOILS… WHICH COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING.
* THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR RAPID RISES OF WATER ON NUMEROUS SMALL STREAMS… AS WELL AS IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. LARGER RIVERS WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE RISES. MUDSLIDES MAY OCCUR IN STEEP TERRAIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.