Flood Watch Issued For NoVA, DC As Waves Of Rain Move In

WASHINGTON, DC — While a warm-up is underway this weekend, the weather won't be that enjoyable. Plan on round after round of rain, enough that the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia, along with a hazardous weather outlook, saying a prolonged period of heavy rain will overspread the region through Sunday night.

Rain has overspread the region and periods of rain will affect the region through the remainder of the weekend. Some locations will see in excess of 2 inches of rain, forecasters say. The flood watch takes effect at 7 p.m. Saturday and will be in place until midnight on Sunday.

The NWS says low-lying flooding is likely where the heaviest rain occurs. In addition, rainfall amounts may result in flooding on area streams, creeks, and rivers by late Sunday.

A slow moving front will lead to multiple rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall from this evening through Sunday evening. Widespread rainfall amounts of 1.5 to 2 inches are likely, with localized amounts up to 3 inches possible.

Areas included in the flood watch are: Washington, D.C., plus Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Stafford, Fauquier, Loudoun, Staunton, Dale City, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Falmouth, Warrenton, Purcellville, Leesburg, Ashburn, and Sterling.

Airport delays related to poor visibility are possible in Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City and Boston, especially from later Saturday through Sunday, according to AccuWeather.

Here's the latest forecast:

Saturday Afternoon: Rain. Patchy fog. High near 50. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog. Low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Sunday: Rain before 1pm, then showers likely after 1pm. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog before 1pm, then patchy fog after 4pm. High near 64. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Showers, mainly before 1am. Patchy fog before 1am. Low around 44. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Monday: A chance of showers, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. North wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50.

Image via Shutterstock