Arlington and the rest of the D.C. area is under a Flash Flood Watch today, Christmas Eve.
Forecasters say that following the rain yesterday, a period of heavy rain later today could cause flash flooding.
From the National Weather Service:
… FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EST THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF MARYLAND… THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA… INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS… IN MARYLAND… ANNE ARUNDEL… CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD… CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY… PRINCE GEORGES AND SOUTHERN BALTIMORE. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA… FAIRFAX AND PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK.
* FROM 9 AM EST THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING
* ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN FELL YESTERDAY ACROSS THE BALTIMORE- WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA. THE AIRMASS IS UNUSUALLY MOIST FOR LATE DECEMBER… WITH ANOTHER QUICK INCH OF RAIN POSSIBLE TODAY. GIVEN SATURATED SOIL AND LITTLE VEGETATION… THIS RAINFALL WOULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING OF URBAN AREAS AS WELL AS SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS.
* THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR RAPID RISES OF WATER ON SMALL STREAMS… AND FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS OR ROADWAYS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.