Flash Flood Watch Issued For 9 Counties Plus Baltimore City

MARYLAND — The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for central Maryland as well as northern Virginia and parts of West Virginia. The flash flood watch is effective from Saturday night through Sunday morning.

Widespread showers Saturday evening will result in heavy rain in some areas that may cause localized flooding. Thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts and large hail may also pose a threat Saturday afternoon to evening, the flash flood watch states.

About 1 to 3 inches of rainfall is anticipated during the watch period, with locally higher amounts of up to 4 inches possible, according to the National Weather Service. During the watch period, streams may overflow their banks and urban areas may flood.

The flash flood watch is in effect from 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, until 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 5. It had been extended until noon, but before then, officials canceled the watch for central Maryland.

A flash flood watch remains in effect until 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, for Cecil and Kent counties, where moderate to heavy rain may bring 0.5 to 1 inch of precipitation that could cause streams and areas with poor drainage to flood. As the late afternoon sets in, rain will taper off by evening.

Authorities issue a flash flood watch when conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding, a dangerous situation that happens when water levels rapidly rise.

The watch that ran from 8 p.m. Saturday to approximately 10 a.m. Sunday applied to Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties as well as Baltimore City.