Update at 2:35 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was just issued, on top of the earlier Flood Watch. The storm watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Storms later today may pack damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia until 10 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/lOTk36DpsE
— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) July 9, 2026
Earlier: Arlington County — and much of the D.C. area — is again under a Flood Watch today (Thursday).
The watch takes effect at 2 p.m. and will remain in effect until 11 p.m. Forecasters say strong storms potentially packing torrential downpours could cause flash flooding later today.
The Flood Watch comes one day after the seventh anniversary of the major flash flooding that caused widespread damage in parts of Arlington on July 8, 2019. The response to that flash flooding, including measures to prevent something like that from happening at that scale again, is ongoing — and is also being reviewed by the county auditor.
More on the watch, from the National Weather Service:
Flood Watch issued July 9 at 4:10AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 2 P.M. TO 11 P.M. EDT THURSDAY.
…Strong thunderstorms will track across the area with a tropical air mass supporting torrential downpours. These will be capable of producing flash flooding…
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE…Washington D.C., including the following areas in Maryland, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Cecil, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Frederick, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Northwest Howard, Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford and Southern Baltimore, and northern Virginia, including the following areas, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, Northwest Prince William and Western Loudoun.
* WHEN…From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through this evening.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS… – A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms are likely to push across the region this afternoon and evening. With a continued tropical air mass over the area, very heavy rainfall rates are possible in many of these storms. These rates could approach 2 to 3 inches per hour, with higher instantaneous rates possible. The most vulnerable locations would be urbanized areas along I-95 as well as areas which have experienced heavy rainfall in recent days. – Please visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness information
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
Today will bring active weather again with a Flood Watch for flash flooding issued from 2-11 PM. This is for the I-95 corridor back to north-central MD & northern VA. Additionally, there is an increased risk of strong to severe thunderstorms, especially from U.S. 15 eastward. pic.twitter.com/MagwHsKnF9
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 9, 2026
