Flash Flood Watch for Northern Virginia Monday

Severe weather is expected to hit Reston, Northern Virginia and most of the Washington, D.C. area Monday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch that will be in effect until late Monday night. The heaviest rains will occur between 5 and 9 p.m.

From the NWS:

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE THIS
AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH THROUGH MOST OF TONIGHT.

SOME OF THE STORMS WILL CONTAIN TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS,  WHICH MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING.

AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE EXPECTED…BUT LOCALIZED AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF THREE
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS.

RAINFALL RATES AROUND ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED IN HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. RECENT RAINFALL HAS SATURATED SOILS WHICH WILL  ALSO INCREASE THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING DURING THIS TIME.

HEAVY RAINFALL IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME MAY CAUSE RAPID RISES ON
CREEKS AND STREAMS AS WELL AS FLASH FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS.

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.