Flash Flood Threat Moved Up, Tips to Prepare: Maryland Weather

BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland and Virginia are in the path of what the National Weather Service now describes as a powerful storm system that could bring 6 inches of rain to many areas and a foot of rain in isolated cases. Forecasters are now urging residents to prepare for severe flooding.

A flash flood watch issued earlier for the area will now start sooner, running from 6 p.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. Friday.

Rain is expected to begin Wednesday afternoon, according to the weather service, becoming heavier Wednesday night, and continue into Thursday night.

Parts of Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area named in the flash flood watch include Anne Arundel, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, Baltimore, Harford and Prince George’s counties.

Cities in the watch area include: Baltimore, Washington, Westminster, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, Severna Park, Arnold, Odenton, Germantown, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Columbia, Ellicott City and Aberdeen.

“Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are expected with localized spots potentially getting up to a foot of rain,” the National Weather Service said Wednesday.

There is a high potential for flooding of small streams, as well as urban areas. Additionally there is a potential for the hardest-hit locations to see severe flooding and flash flooding, forecasters say.

The weather service urges residents to take precautions ahead of the rainfall, noting “these next few days will be a dangerous time requiring more than the usual awareness, planning and preparations.”

Be sure to:

• If you are near streams or drainage ditches keep an eye on them and be ready to quickly seek higher ground. Water may rise rapidly.
• Clear out storm drains.
• Those prone to basement flooding should prepare.
• Communities prone to flooding should prepare.

The forecast calls for:

• Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 8pm, then patchy fog after 2am. Low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Thursday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Patchy fog before 8 am. High near 71. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 am, then a chance of showers. Low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
• Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

»Graphics from the National Weather Service, photo from Shutterstock