Update — The National Weather Service has just issued a Flash Flood Warning for much of the D.C. area, including Fairfax County and Fairfax City.
The alert is scheduled to be in effect until 6 p.m.
* At 254 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1.5 to 2.5 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2.5 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE…Radar.
IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
Earlier: Though the skies look sunny now, storms are expected to roll through the D.C. area later this afternoon (Tuesday).
The National Weather Service has issued flood and severe thunderstorm watches for the region, including Fairfax County. The former will take effect from 2-11 p.m., while the latter is scheduled to be in place until 9 p.m.
Fueled by plenty of moisture in the air, the storms could bring heavy rainfall and a potential for flash flooding, according to DC News Now meteorologist Jackie Layer’s latest forecast for FFXnow.
Both Layer and the National Weather Service are predicting that Fairfax County will see 1-2 inches of rain, though higher amounts are possible in isolated locations.
To learn more about what to expect, see the full Flood Watch and Layer’s forecast below. As the daytime meteorologist for DC News Now, her forecasts can also be viewed on DC News Now/WDVM and DCW50.
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.
* WHERE…Portions of DC, including the following , District of Columbia, Maryland, including the following areas, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Cecil, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Frederick MD, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Northwest Howard, Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford, Southern Baltimore and Washington, Virginia, including the following areas, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park, Clarke, Culpeper, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, Frederick VA, Greene, Madison, Northern Fauquier, Northern Virginia Blue Ridge, Northwest Prince William, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Southern Fauquier, Warren and Western Loudoun, and West Virginia, including the following areas, Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson and Morgan.
* 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…
– Numerous thunderstorms are expected to form and move across the Watch area this afternoon and evening. While thunderstorms will move along at a faster speed than the past couple of days, they will be capable of producing very heavy instantaneous rainfall rates, and may exhibit some training motion at times. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms may be possible at any single location. In total, a widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain is expected, with embedded higher totals of 3 to 5 inches. Flash flooding may occur as a result.
– Please visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness informationPRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
