Heavy rain, water-laden ground and melting snow are a recipe for potential flooding today.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Arlington and much of the D.C. region from noon today to late tonight.
From NWS:
… FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EST TODAY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS EXPANDED THE
* FLOOD WATCH TO INCLUDE PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND… THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA… INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS… IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… ANNE ARUNDEL… CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD… CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY… NORTHWEST HOWARD… NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGES. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA… EASTERN LOUDOUN… FAIRFAX… PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK AND WESTERN LOUDOUN.
* FROM NOON EST TODAY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
* THE COMBINATION OF MELTING SNOW AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN COULD RESULT IN FLOODING OF URBAN AREAS AND STREAMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL AVERAGE BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH… WITH ISOLATED SPOTS BETWEEN ONE AND TWO INCHES POSSIBLE.
* IN ADDITION… ICE MAY BE ON SOME OF THE SMALL STREAMS WHICH COULD ENHANCE THE FLOODING POTENTIAL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.