Flooding Concerns Continue for the Mid-Atlantic
The Mid-Atlantic region has certainly gotten plenty of rain recently. The soil is saturated, and many streams and creeks are already running high. Now, more rain is falling this weekend, and flooding could be widespread.
The National Weather Service in DC/Baltimore posted on its Twitter page what to expect. Repeated rounds of heavy rain through the weekend. Widespread rainfall of one to three inches. And possible rapid rises of water.
Flash Flood Watch through 6 AM Sunday for the entire area. Rain will begin this morning and become heavy at times this afternoon. Monitor https://t.co/5RyZgpeTAT for warnings. pic.twitter.com/bAC0LwNeAn
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) June 2, 2018
The National Weather Service near Richmond, Virginia also posted on Twitter. They warn of isolated totals of four inches with torrential downpours. They also highlight the possibility of flash flooding, and the need to be prepared to move to higher ground immediately if that happens. And they stress… never drive into areas where water covers the road. This is very important for two reasons. You don’t know the depth of the water, and you don’t know the condition of the road. In some cases, the road may not be there!
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for much of central and SE VA, including the Richmond/Tri Cities Metro and Hampton Roads, as well as the lower MD eastern shore. Torrential downpours are expected this afternoon and tonight, potentially causing flash flooding. pic.twitter.com/6y2hgwLabw
— NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) June 2, 2018
Rainfall totals are expected to be the highest between Philadelphia and Richmond. One to three inches of rain are expected. However, there could be spots that receive four or five inches of rain by Sunday afternoon.
Flash Flood Watches are now in effect for the entire region. Eastern Virginia, southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and southeastern Pennsylvania are all included in this watch area. Washington D.C. is also included.
Why so much rain? The answer is simple. There’s a stalled out front with an area of low pressure parked right over eastern Virginia. The low is dragging in moisture from the Atlantic Ocean, creating a conveyor belt of rain over the mid-Atlantic region for the entire weekend. Notice in next two illustrations how the low hardly moves between 9pm Saturday night and 2pm Sunday afternoon. Rain will continue to fall over the same areas during this time. As the rain totals rise, flooding concerns will increase.
The most important thing to keep in mind is flood safety. Always have a plan in place should flooding occur. Have a safe place to go if flooding begins in your home or neighborhood. And NEVER drive across flooded roads. As the National Weather Service warns, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”.
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Matt Monroe