Flood Watch Issued For 17 Counties Plus Baltimore

MARYLAND — The end of the week will likely be a rainy one in Maryland. Up to 4 inches of rain may fall in some areas, according to forecasters.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of the state from 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20, to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21.

Rain is expected to fall starting Thursday night, with 1 to 2 inches likely and 3 to 4 inches of rain possible in some areas.

Since the soil is saturated due to recent rains, there is the potential that small streams, creeks and urban areas may flood.

These Maryland counties and Baltimore City are under the flood watch from Thursday to Friday night:

• Anne Arundel
• Baltimore
• Calvert
• Caroline
• Carroll
• Charles
• Frederick
• Harford
• Howard
• Kent
• Montgomery
• Prince George's
• Queen Anne's
• Somerset
• St. Mary's
• Talbot
• Washington

A flood watch means that there is potential for flooding, and people should monitor later forecasts.

(Get Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Here is the forecast from the National Weather Service for the Baltimore metro area:

Thursday: Rain, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 49 and low of 48. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100% with up to 1.25 inches possible.

Friday: Showers likely between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. then again from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday. The rain could be heavy at times. High of 62 and low of 42 degrees. East wind of 8 to 13 mph with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47 and low around 34.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 46 and a low around 35.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45 and a low around 32.

Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Christmas Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Graphic of the flood watch area courtesy of the National Weather Service.