Flash Flood Watch Issued For Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch Monday for Howard County and several other jurisdictions. Showers and thunderstorms will be capable of "producing intense rainfall rates that could lead to flash flooding," weather officials said.

Heavy rain in a short time can lead to flash flooding, or a rapid rise in water level. During a flash flood, low-lying areas, roads and areas with poor drainage as well as streams and creeks may become inundated.

Weather officials say Monday's slow-moving storms are expected to last from the afternoon through the evening. They may be accompanied by gusty winds.

These areas are under the flash flood watch from noon to 10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 13:

• Allegany
• Anne Arundel
• Baltimore
• Carroll
• Cecil (flash flood watch effective from 6 a.m. to midnight)
• Frederick
• Harford
• Howard
• Montgomery
• Prince George's
• Washington

In addition to northern and central Maryland, the National Weather Service said that parts of northern and northwestern Virginia and eastern West Virginia are under the flash flood watch.

Please REMEMBER #HoCoMD, if you come upon a flooded roadway, #TurnAroundDontDrown. It takes just a mere 6" of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult, 12" of rushing water to carry away a small car and 2' of rushing water to carry away most vehicles.
— Howard County Gov't (@HoCoGov) August 13, 2018

Graphic via National Weather Service.