Flash Flood Watch Issued For Maryland; Rainfall Rates May Reach 2 Inches Per Hour

WASHINGTON, DC — The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch Thursday afternoon for the city of Baltimore and seven Maryland counties. The watch is in effect until 9 p.m.

Flash flooding conditions are expected for Anne Arundel, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, Baltimore, Harford, Prince George's counties.

Cities in the watch area include: Baltimore, Silver Spring, Bowie, Annapolis, Odenton, Westminster, Bethesda, College Park, Reisterstown, Columbia, Severna Park, Greenbelt, Germantown, Rockville, Jarrettsville, Frederick, Arnold, Suitland-Silver Hill, Gaithersburg, Severn, Eldersburg, Glen Burnie, Ellicott City, Cockeysville, Laurel, and Aberdeen.

Slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are expected to produce very heavy rainfall, potentially leading to areas of flash flooding. Rainfall rates may reach 2 inches per hour.

The NWS warned residents to monitor forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.

Heavy rainfall may lead to the rapid rising of water in local streams and urban areas with poor drainage.

Here's the latest Baltimore area forecast:

Thursday afternoon: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 68. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: Isolated showers, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.