(Updated at 9:25 p.m.) Arlington County and the immediate D.C. area, as well as points north, are under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch tonight.
The watch is in effect until midnight. Forecasters say an approaching cold front will bring storms and potentially damaging winds to the area over the next few hours. Heavy rain and hail are also expected.
Just before 9:30 p.m., a Flash Flood Watch was also issued for Arlington. The watch is in effect until 4 a.m.
More from the National Weather Service:
924 PM EDT WED SEP 8 2021
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT THURSDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS EXPANDED THE
* FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO INCLUDE PORTIONS OF DC, CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS: IN DC, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN CENTRAL MARYLAND, ANNE ARUNDEL AND PRINCE GEORGES. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA, EASTERN LOUDOUN, FAIRFAX, PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK AND WESTERN LOUDOUN.
* UNTIL 4 AM EDT THURSDAY.
* SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE-HALF TO ONE INCH IS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WITH RAINFALL RATES AROUND 1 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR. LOCALIZED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.
* HEAVY AMOUNTS OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME MAY CAUSE CREEKS AND STREAMS TO RAPIDLY RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH-FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for parts of Maryland and southern Pennsylvania until Midnight EDT. The main threats will be damaging winds and hail. Follow @NWS_BaltWash and @NWSStateCollege for the latest warning information. pic.twitter.com/LfTUXJtiQP
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) September 9, 2021