A Severe Thunderstorm Watch and Flood Watch have been issued for Arlington, Falls Church and much of the D.C. area.
The storm watch was issued just before 4:45 p.m. and is set to remain in effect until 11 p.m. The National Weather Service says hail, wind gusts up to 65 mph, and “a couple tornadoes” are all possible with a line of storms approaching from the west.
The line has already produced Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, Flash Flood Warnings, and, as of publication time, a Tornado Warning near Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
More, below, from NWS.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia until 11 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Bqj9AXnNxZ
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 16, 2026
The Flood Watch was issued just before 5:30 p.m.
From NWS:
Flood Watch issued August 16 at 5:22PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 P.M. SUNDAY TO 3 A.M. EDT MONDAY.
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.
* WHERE…The District of Columbia, portions of Maryland, including the following areas, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Charles and Prince Georges, and Virginia, including the following areas, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, King George, Northwest Prince William, Spotsylvania and Stafford.
* WHEN…Until 3 AM EDT Monday.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS… – Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through the Watch area this evening through the first half of the night. A widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain is expected, with localized totals of 2 to 4 inches where training or backbuilding occurs. Some instances of flooding are expected to occur, especially in urban areas that receive multiple rounds of storms. – 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.
