Flood Watch Issued In MD As Storms May Bring Heavy Rains

MARYLAND — Flash flooding from excessive rainfall continues to be a threat for portions of Maryland on Sunday. A flood watch is in effect until 8 p.m., the National Weather Service said, with up to 3 inches of rain possible in a few areas.

Flash flood warnings have been posted in parts of Southern Maryland until 4 p.m., including Hughesville, Charlotte Hall and Aquasco.

“Moderate to heavy showers are continuing to move further east through parts of eastern VA and southern MD. An additional round of showers and t-storms will move through the area this PM. Flood Watch remains in effect for portions of the I-95 corridor and southern MD until 8pm,” the National Weather Service Baltimore-DC office said about 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

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

Communities in the flood watch include: Columbia, Arnold, Reisterstown, Aberdeen, College Park, North Beach, Suitland-Silver Hill, Silver Spring, Odenton, Baltimore, Jarrettsville, Severn, Greenbelt, Severna Park, Waldorf, Laurel, Ellicott City, Chesapeake Beach, Bowie, California, Lusby, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Cockeysville, Glen Burnie, Rockville, Camp Springs, Elkton, and Annapolis.

The death toll in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, following flash flooding from a fast-moving storm and torrential downpours has risen to four people, authorities said Sunday morning. Authorities said they have recovered an additional body in a creek one mile south of Taylorsville Road Sunday morning. Authorities are not releasing the names and identities of the victims until families can be notified.

A woman and two children —a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister —are among the missing, Upper Makefield Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer said at a press conference Sunday.

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.

"Numerous showers and thunderstorms are possible across the warned area through this afternoon," the Weather Service said. "Storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall, with additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches possible. Locally higher amounts are also possible."

High humidity will help generate storms Sunday, but conditions are expected to improve Monday into midweek, the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said.

"That doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t rain at all, but most days should only see the chance of a pop-up shower. Still plenty warm through the forecast period with highs near or past 90," the Post said.

Visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness information.

Storms are possible through Monday night, then skies clear as heat moves back in with high temperatures above 90 degrees by Tuesday, the weather service said.

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

Sunday Afternoon: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms..

Sunday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 75. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 6 mph.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: A chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 30%.