NoVA, DC Weather: Storm To Dump 3 Inches Rain, Flash Flood Watch

WASHINGTON, DC — Brace yourself for waterlogged streets and poor driving conditions: Heavy downpours could dump up to 3 inches of rain on much of northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., by Friday, forecasters say. There's only one day out of the next seven that the National Weather Service doesn't expect rain to fall in the DC region. A flash flood watch for DC, northern Virginia and parts of Maryland will take effect at 1 p.m. Thursday and run through 7 a.m. Friday.

Periods of heavy rain will begin Wednesday night and linger until Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. The downpours will hit hardest on Thursday with up to 3 inches of rain predicted, said forecasters.

Rain will continue steadily until about 8 p.m. Friday, but then the weather will dry up for a sunny Saturday with highs in the mid 40s, according to the NWS.

The flood watch includes the District of Columbia, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, and Stafford. Cities in the watch include Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Falmouth, and Fredericksburg.

National Weather Service forecasters said that from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning multiple rounds of rainfall will drench the region, with the heaviest rainfall potential Thursday afternoon and evening.

Storm total rainfall amounts through Friday morning are expected to range between 2 and 3 inches.

Flooding of poor drainage and low-lying areas will be possible, and some smaller streams and rivers may exceed their banks. A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.

Residents should monitor forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to act if flooding occurs.

"A strong cold front with a deep surge of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico ahead of it, fueling multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms, especially from the central Gulf Coast to the southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic region" is approaching the state, the National Weather Service said. "Rainfall totals through Friday morning are expected to be on the order of 2 to 4 inches from the Florida Panhandle to New Jersey."

Chances for rain return Saturday night through Tuesday, the service said.

And for anyone traveling to the west, a winter weather advisory has been issued for western Allegheny County, Maryland, and western Mineral County in West Virginia from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday. Ice accumulations around one to two tenths of an inch are possible; bridges and overpasses could be icy.

Here's what to expect in the days ahead:

Wednesday: A chance of showers before 1pm, then a chance of rain after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 44. North wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday Night: Periods of rain. Low around 39. East wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain. High near 62. Light and variable wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 48. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Southwest wind 7 to 16 mph becoming west in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 46.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.