Flash floods could happen in parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Thursday afternoon through late Thursday night. Heavy thunderstorms could drop up to four inches of rain in some places.
A Flood Watch is in effect for Washington County in Maryland, as well as for much of Northern and Central Virginia. This includes Shenandoah, Culpeper, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George counties, as well as the tip of West Virginia, where Berkeley and Jefferson counties are at risk. The watch starts at 2 p.m. Thursday and lasts until early Friday morning. Storms are expected to bring one to two inches of rain in just 30 minutes.
Officials say that too much runoff could fill low-lying roads, creeks, and rivers, especially in areas that don’t have good drainage and in cities. Major roads like US-340, I-81, and secondary highways in these counties may have water on the road, which could make driving dangerous or even cause the roads to close. People are being told not to drive through standing water, to charge their phones, and to get ready to leave quickly if flash flood warnings are issued.
With the chance of more than one round of thunderstorms, places that aren’t ready for it could quickly become flooded. The Flood Watch will stay in place until Friday at 2 a.m., and more warnings may be sent out if things get worse. Keep an eye out for changes, and be ready to act if a Flash Flood Warning is sent out.
