Washington, D.C. – Heavy rainfall could swamp roads and low-lying areas across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia Friday night as a slow-moving storm system pushes through the region.
According to the National Weather Service, a Flood Watch is in effect from 7 p.m. Friday through 4 a.m. Saturday for a wide swath including the District of Columbia, Baltimore metro, Northern Virginia, and parts of the Shenandoah Valley. Forecasters say up to 4 inches of rain could fall in localized areas, triggering flash flooding in urban zones and flood-prone terrain.
Areas under the watch include Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington, Alexandria, Frederick, Montgomery, and Howard counties, as well as central West Virginia counties such as Jefferson, Berkeley, and Hampshire. Affected roadways may become impassable, especially during overnight hours when visibility is low.
Drivers are urged to avoid flooded roads, monitor alerts, and charge devices in case of power outages. Residents in flood-prone zones should be ready to move to higher ground quickly if warnings are issued.
The storm system may bring multiple rounds of heavy rain, with the potential for flash flooding continuing into early Saturday. Additional watches or warnings may be issued overnight.
