Storms today may cause flash flooding, forecasters say.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Arlington and the immediate D.C. metro area, saying that torrential downpours could dump 2-3 inches of rain in under an hour.
The watch will go into effect at 3 p.m.
More from NWS:
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, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY, CHARLES, AND PRINCE GEORGES. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA, FAIRFAX, AND PRINCE WILLIAM.
* FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
* A SLOW-MOVING COLD FRONT WILL INTERSECT A HOT AND HUMID AIR MASS RESULTING IN SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ISOLATED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY RESULT IN RAPID RISES OF WATER ON SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS, AS WELL AS IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
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.
In addition to the threat of heavy rain, some storms may be severe, with gusty winds and frequent lightning.
Sct'd showers & t'storms this afternoon/evening may contain gusty winds, flooding rain and frequent lightning, especially east of the Blue Ridge into the DC metro. pic.twitter.com/WQZhOwBAwL
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 28, 2020