Flash Flood Watch Issued For Baltimore Metro Area

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch Monday for Baltimore City and several other jurisdictions in the Baltimore-Washington area. A flash flood watch means heavy rain in a short time can lead to flash flooding, or a rapid rise in water level.

Slow-moving storms will arrive Monday afternoon and continue into the evening, weather officials say.

Showers and thunderstorms will be capable of "producing intense rainfall rates that could lead to flash flooding," according to the watch. Gusty winds are also possible.

The flash flood watch is in effect for these jurisdictions from noon to 10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 13:

• Allegany
• Anne Arundel
• Baltimore
• Carroll
• Cecil (flash flood watch effective from 6 a.m. to midnight)
• Frederick
• Harford
• Howard
• Montgomery
• Prince George's
• Washington

In addition to northern and central Maryland, the National Weather Service said that parts of northern and northwestern Virginia and eastern West Virginia are under the flash flood watch.

Weather officials said that ground is already saturated, which may contribute to flash flooding. Before 2 a.m. on Monday, the National Weather Service advised that 2 inches of rain had fallen during the evening hours in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

Graphic via National Weather Service.