MD Weather: Tropical Storm Warning; Tornado, Flood Watch Issued

Updated at 8:10 p.m.

MARYLAND — The worst of Tropical Storm Elsa's passage along the Maryland coast should be wrapped up by Friday morning, forecasters say. A tropical storm warning is in place overnight for Ocean City and four Eastern Shore counties as the storm crawls closer to Maryland.

Rainfall from 1 to 5 inches was predicted across southern Maryland, with flash flooding expected in several counties.

A tornado watch was issued for Thursday evening, as well as a flash flood watch through 8 a.m. Friday.

Gov. Larry Hogan urged residents to keep an eye on changing weather conditions and alerts overnight.

"As a result of Tropical Storm Elsa, Maryland’s threat window is from 4 p.m. today to Friday morning," Hogan said Thursday afternoon. "The state’s primary threat remains severe thunderstorms with localized damaging wind gusts.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Queen Anne's, St. Marys, Calvert, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties, as well as Ocean City, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency said Thursday night.

As Elsa moves across the eastern mid-Atlantic overnight, heavy rainfall may cause flash and urban flooding, the National Weather Service said late Thursday. Tropical storm conditions should continue along portions of the mid-Atlantic coast overnight.

Tropical Storm Elsa was expected to dump rain on areas east of the I-95 corridor, according to the National Weather Service. Expected rainfall totals in southern Maryland of 2 to 4 inches, with up to 6 inches were possible. Further west, closer to the I-95 corridor could lesser amounts of up to 1 inch, with locally higher amounts of 2-3 inches possible.

"I strongly urge Marylanders to keep mobile devices charged and have multiple ways to receive alerts and warnings. Visit http://knowyourzonemd.com for hurricane preparedness information and tips," Hogan tweeted.

Maximum sustained winds climbed from 40 mph to 50 mph with higher gusts during the afternoon. Some re-strengthening was possible Thursday night.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Calvert and St. Mary's counties. A flash flood watch is in effect for areas inside I-95 where rainfall is expected to be the heaviest, the National Weather Service said. Timing for impacts will be late this afternoon through early Friday morning.

Tornado Watch: The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch just before 4 p.m. that is in effect until 11 p.m. Thursday for four counties in southeast Maryland: Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester.

Flash Flood Watch: Areas under the watch from 5 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday include Anne Arundel, Calvert, Cecil, Charles, Prince George's, southeast Harford, southern Baltimore and St. Marys counties. Cities in the watch include Elkton, South Gate, Bowie, Annapolis, Odenton, College Park, Chesapeake Beach, Severna Park, California, Greenbelt, Dahlgren, St. Charles, Camp Springs, Lexington Park, Arnold, North Beach, Waldorf, Suitland-Silver Hill, Severn, Lusby, Baltimore, Clinton, Glen Burnie, Laurel, and Aberdeen.

Moderate to heavy rainfall over a period of a few hours may cause streams and creeks to quickly rise out of their banks, potentially leading to instances of flash flooding, experts warned.

After making landfall in Florida Wednesday morning, Elsa, the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is headed up the East Coast toward southeastern Virginia and Maryland.

The Town of Ocean City urged residents to watch for storm updates on the following outlets:

• City Wide Emergency Alerts: Citizens can sign up for emergency alerts by visiting: http://oceancitymd.gov/enews and subscribing to "City Wide Emergency Alerts."
• Town of Ocean City Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TownOfOceanCity
• Town of Ocean City Twitter: @townofoceancity
• Town of Ocean City website: www.oceancitymd.gov/knowyourzone
• FM Advisory Radio Station – 99.5
• Town of Ocean City Access Channels 4 & 15

Residents are encouraged to Know Your Zone and Division and be prepared for any impact the storm may have on Ocean City. To begin preparing, citizens should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan. For more information about storm preparedness, visit: http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is forecast in the Ocean City area with some areas receiving up to 6 inches.
Tropical storm force wind gusts are expected to develop along or near coastal portions of southeast Maryland Thursday evening. This could lead to some downed trees and scattered power outages.

Forecasters urged residents to prepare before the wind becomes hazardous.

Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes is possible. Unsecured lightweight objects may be blown about and large tree limbs broken off. Some road signs will sustain damage and debris is possible on roads.

So far, weather experts have not warned about possible storm surge.

"There is little to no threat of storm surge flooding," the NWS said. "Rough surf, coastal erosion, and life-threatening rip currents are possible."

Additionally, a few tornadoes will be possible Thursday into Thursday night across southeast Maryland, which could lead to locally enhanced damage.

Dangerous marine conditions are expected to develop Thursday evening into Friday morning with strong winds and seas building to 6 to 8 feet.

The storm is expected to clear the region Friday morning as it moves north into New York.