Tornado Watch Issued For Anne Arundel County

ANNAPOLIS, MD — After a week of residents told to be vigilant, the remnants of what was Hurricane Florence are moving into Maryland, and Anne Arundel County is now under a tornado watch until 10 p.m. Monday. Other counties included in the watch are Calvert, Charles, Prince George's and St. Mary's, the National Weather Service said.

Several counties, including Anne Arundel, are also under a flash flood watch Monday. The flash flood watch calls for 1 to 2 inches of rain, with locally heavier amounts possible. The watch is in effect until 4 a.m. Tuesday, according to the NWS.

Rain arrived late Monday morning and is expected to continue through the afternoon, with thunderstorms possible Monday night, as well. The National Weather Service has issued hazardous weather outlooks around the state calling for heavy rain, with an isolated tornado possible. There is a high risk of rip currents, and a small craft advisory is in effect until Wednesday.

"Steadiest rain may leave this afternoon, but additional showers and isolated thunderstorms are likely this evening. Locally heavy rain possible," the Baltimore-Washington office of the NWS said.

A coastal flood warning is in effect from 9 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday for the shoreline in Anne Arundel County. High tides should be 1.5 to 2 feet above normal. High tide at Annapolis is at 1:09 a.m. overnight into early Tuesday morning.

Water is expected to come up through storm drains, approaching businesses on Dock Street in Annapolis. Water could approach the Maritime Museum and begin to cover Bowyer Road at the Naval Academy. Shoreline inundation up to one foot above ground is likely in other low lying areas.

Tornadoes are possible in western Maryland as the storm's remains move across the region. "Florence is expected to produce heavy to excessive rainfall over the next couple of days. Portions of the Mid-Atlantic
states west of Interstate 95 into southern New York and southern New England are expected to receive an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain...with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches possible," the National Hurricane Center said at 11 a.m.

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At Maryland beaches, there is a high risk of rip currents until 8 p.m. Monday, so people are advised to be cautious near water, as the conditions are life-threatening. As the remnants of Florence cross west and north of the beaches through Monday night, scattered showers may produce heavy downpours. Moderate to heavy rainfall is possible Tuesday.

A small craft advisory is in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday for the Chesapeake Bay as well as the Potomac, Patuxent and Choptank rivers and Tangier Sound. Winds of 18 to 33 knots are imminent or occurring, making conditions dangerous for smaller vessels.

The forecast for the area is soggy until Wednesday.

Monday Afternoon: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. High near 79. South wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 3am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Patchy fog after 3am. Low around 73. South wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: A chance of showers before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers between 9pm and 3am. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 70. North wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. North wind 8 to 10 mph.

Image via Shutterstock, graphic by National Weather Service