Weather

NEW: Flood Watch issued for Sunday night, ‘serious’ weather threat on Monday

Thunderstorms and heavy rain in Westover in 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Get ready for some wild weather over the next day and a half.

First up are some storms tonight (Sunday) that are likely to be packing torrential rainfall. The heavy rain could cause flash flooding, prompting a Flood Watch to be issued this afternoon, taking effect at 8 p.m.

More from the National Weather Service:

239 PM EDT Sun Aug 6 2023

…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 AM EDT MONDAY…

* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

* WHERE…Portions of DC, Maryland and northern Virginia, including the following areas: in DC, District of Columbia. In Maryland, Anne Arundel, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford and Southern Baltimore. In northern Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park, Fairfax and Stafford.

* WHEN…From 8 PM this evening to 2 AM EDT Monday.

* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Heavy rainfall moving through with the potential for 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, locally higher, in a short period of time.
– Please visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness information

Monday has the potential for even more active weather.

Arlington, D.C. and other parts of the region are under an “enhanced” risk of severe weather, according to a National Weather Service outlook. Severe winds are likely, according to NWS forecasters, noting the “seriousness” of the threat.

Meanwhile, large hail and even a tornado are also possible in the D.C. area.

Severe wind outlook for Aug. 7, 2023 (via National Weather Service)

According to NWS, this is the first time that D.C. has ever had a 45% or greater risk of severe winds on its next-day outlook.

The last instance of such a high probability of severe winds was the same-day outlook on Halloween day 2019.