The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Reston, Northern Virginia and most of the DC area for Wednesday.

The watch goes into effect at 4 p.m. and will remain in effect through the evening

The NWS says thunderstorms will increase in late afternoon and early evening and their is the potential for rainfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour in some areas.

From the NWS:

LOCALLY EXCESSIVE RAINFALL COULD CAUSE RAPID FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AS WELL AS LOW-LYING AND URBAN 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.