Storms Pack Flash Flooding Risk Over Rainy VA, DC Weekend

VIRGINIA — Thunderstorms may cause flash flooding this weekend in the District and Northern Virginia, and damaging winds are also in the forecast. It will feel like 100 degrees in parts of the Washington, D.C., region, prompting a flash flood watch to be issued for Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia by the National Weather Service.

Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible in: the District of Columbia, plus Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Loudoun, Fairfax, and Stafford. The flash flood watch is in effect until 8 p.m.

"A couple rounds of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon into this evening," the National Weather Service said. "A few inches of rain is possible in a short amount of time as a result, and may cause rapid rises of water on creeks, streams, urban and poor drainage areas, and in other flood-prone locations."

While heat and humidity will produce showers Friday through Sunday, the strongest storms are likely at the end of the weekend, the agency said.

"Expect high temps in the upper 80s & low 90s with heat indices making it feel like 95-100 degrees. Scattered to numerous showers & t-storms are likely this afternoon, some of which could be locally gusty with isolated instances of flooding between 1-7pm," the National Weather Service's Baltimore-DC office tweeted Friday morning.

Much of the spotty thunderstorm activity along the East Coast this weekend will tend to focus from the Appalachians to just north and west of Interstate 95 through Friday afternoon, AccuWeather said. "An exception may be in eastern Virginia and central Maryland, where storms may erupt locally and potentially drench Washington, D.C., and Baltimore on Friday."

As this disturbance turns northeastward Sunday morning, it "has the potential to be a very efficient producer of heavy rain due to the high amounts of moisture available in eastern portions of Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as West Virginia and the western portions of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland," AccuWeather predicts.

Rain chances start at 20 percent Friday, increase to 60 percent Friday night and will peak at 80 percent most of Sunday, the NWS said.

Here's the weekend forecast for DC and Northern Virginia from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Increasing clouds, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. North wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 84. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 30%.