Flood Watch Issued For MD, Storms May Bring Heavy Rains

MARYLAND — Flash flooding from excessive rainfall will be a threat for portions of Maryland on Sunday and Monday. A flood watch is in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday, the National Weather Service said, with 2 inches of rain or more possible in a few areas.

“Heavy rainfall will move through the area this evening into the overnight hours, leading to scattered instances of flash flooding,” the National Weather Service Baltimore-DC office said Sunday. "Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations."

Portions of DC and Maryland under the flood watch include: the city of Baltimore, the District of Columbia, plus Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, Harford, Howard, Prince George's counties.

Communities in the flood watch include: Rockville, Annapolis, Bowie, Aberdeen, Columbia, Bethesda, Laurel, Odenton, Severn, South Gate, College Park, Gaithersburg, Camp Springs, Severna Park, Arnold, Suitland-Silver Hill, Silver Spring, Greenbelt, Glen Burnie, and Ellicott City.

Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, the NWS office for Baltimore-Washington, D.C., said. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

Heavy rains are possible again Monday, and a slight chance for strong storms exists overnight for areas west of I-95. Tuesday’s severe threat is more widespread for the entire region, the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said.

"While we could see thunderstorms and downpours almost anytime during the afternoon and evening hours, the chances for the strongest storms — and highest flooding potentials — may focus on the 5 to 10 p.m. window" on Tuesday, the Post said. "Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds, heavy rain and maybe a tornado. Even outside of thunderstorms, southwesterly winds could gust near 30 mph."

Visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness information.
Storms are possible through Tuesday night, then skies clear as heat moves back in, with high temperatures around 90 degrees by Wednesday, the weather service said.

Here's the Maryland forecast for the first half of the week, according to the National Weather Service:

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between midnight and 3am, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Low around 75. South wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 9am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between midnight and 3am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Low around 75. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 71. West wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 90.