Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For 18 Counties Plus Baltimore

MARYLAND — A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for several counties until 11 p.m. on Monday, June 17. The watch means that there is potential for severe thunderstorms.

For the National Weather Service to consider a thunderstorm severe, it must produce winds of at least 58 mph and/or hail at least 1 inch in diameter.

These locations are included in the severe thunderstorm watch, plus Baltimore City:

• Anne Arundel
• Baltimore
• Calvert
• Caroline
• Cecil
• Charles
• Dorchester
• Harford
• Howard
• Kent
• Montgomery
• Prince George's
• Queen Anne's
• Somerset
• St. Mary's
• Talbot
• Wicomico
• Worcester

Also much of Maryland is under a flash flood watch on Monday, June 17. The National Weather Service issued the watch Monday morning, ahead of a slow-moving front accompanied by rounds of heavy rain. There is at least a 50 percent chance of rain every day this week, with chances of precipitation expected to decrease starting Saturday.

Monday afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms may move repeatedly over the same area and produce "intense rainfall rates in a short period," weather officials said.

Northern and central Maryland are at greatest risk of flash flooding, officials reported.

The flash flood watch is in effect from 2 to 10 p.m. on Monday for these areas in Maryland:

• Allegany County
• Anne Arundel County
• Baltimore County
• Baltimore City
• Carroll County
• Frederick County
• Harford County
• Howard County
• Montgomery County
• Prince George's County
• Washington County

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop which could lead to flash flooding, or a rapid rise in water level that can be life-threatening. The stalled front combined with a tropical air mass will lead to severe storms and flooding rains, according to the National Weather Service.

Longer Flash Flood Watch On Eastern Shore

On the Eastern Shore, a separate flash flood watch states that strong thunderstorms could bring torrential rainfall as a slow-moving front travels across the region, in which some storms could redevelop.

"There is potential for 1 to 3 inches of rain in a very short period of time where the strongest storms occur," according to the flash flood watch.

Urban areas and those with poor drainage may flood in the event of torrential downpours, with small creeks and streams expected to rise.

These counties are under a flash flood watch from noon Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday:

• Caroline County
• Cecil County
• Kent County
• Queen Anne's County
• Talbot County

Maryland is not the only area on alert — D.C. and parts of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia are also covered in the flash flood watches.

Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued, Daily Rain Possible This Week

Damaging wind gusts and large hail could accompany isolated severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon and Monday night, weather officials said in a hazardous weather outlook for the region.

Flooding could also occur on Tuesday, when showers and thunderstorms with potentially heavy rain are again in the forecast, authorities advised.

Here is the forecast for the Baltimore metro area from the National Weather Service:

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86 and low around 70. Slight chance of showers before noon, then showers increasingly likely, with possibly a thunderstorm after 3 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85 and low of 70. A slight chance of showers before noon, then showers and thunderstorms increasingly likely after noon and especially after 3 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84 and low around 71. Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms increasingly likely, particularly after 3 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 87 and low around 69. Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 3 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A chance of showers before 9 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83 and low near 66. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84 and low around 67. At night, there's a 30% chance of showers.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 30%.