Update at 5:55 p.m. — Arlington and much of the D.C. and Baltimore region is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of DC, MD, VA until 11 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/wRkTqvrADp
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) May 15, 2018
Earlier: Arlington County and surrounding areas are currently under a Flash Flood Watch due to expected storms tonight.
Forecasters say heavy rain may lead to flash flooding, as it did last night along Four Mile Run.
More from the National Weather Service:
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT…
A FRONT WILL SAG ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. A COUPLE ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO ACCOMPANY THE FRONT AND SHOULD MOVE ACROSS THE MASON-DIXON REGION LATE AFTERNOON. THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD PUSH FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST INTO EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA, NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND PORTIONS OF NORTHERN MARYLAND DURING THE EVENING. HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIGHTNING WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS WITH THE POTENTIAL OF ENCOUNTERING DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL IN THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD AVERAGE 1 TO 3 INCHES LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY IN SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS.
FLASH FLOODING RISK IS FOR SMALL STREAMS PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AREAS LIKE BALTIMORE AND HAGERSTOWN. 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.
More storms likely late today & thru tonight. While there may be isolated instances of damaging wind & hail, the bigger threat will be from heavy rain & potential for flash flooding. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 3pm-1am for much of the area. #TurnAroundDontDrown pic.twitter.com/NtYzJQsDeY
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) May 15, 2018