“THESE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE A DANGEROUS TIME…WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

From the National Weather Service:

“FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 6PM EDT WED UNTIL 8AM EDT FRI

… FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT INTO FRIDAY MORNING…

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF MARYLAND… THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA… INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS… IN MARYLAND… ANNE ARUNDEL… CALVERT… CARROLL… CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY… CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD… CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY… CHARLES… FREDERICK MD… NORTHERN BALTIMORE… NORTHWEST HARFORD… NORTHWEST HOWARD… NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY… PRINCE GEORGES… SOUTHEAST HARFORD… SOUTHERN BALTIMORE… ST. MARYS AND WASHINGTON. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN VIRGINIA… ALBEMARLE… ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA… AUGUSTA… CENTRAL VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE… CLARKE… CULPEPER… EASTERN LOUDOUN… FAIRFAX… FREDERICK VA… GREENE… KING GEORGE… MADISON… NELSON… NORTHERN FAUQUIER… NORTHERN VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE… ORANGE… PAGE… PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK… RAPPAHANNOCK… ROCKINGHAM… SHENANDOAH… SOUTHERN FAUQUIER… SPOTSYLVANIA… STAFFORD… WARREN AND WESTERN LOUDOUN. IN WEST VIRGINIA… BERKELEY… EASTERN MINERAL… HAMPSHIRE… HARDY… JEFFERSON AND MORGAN.

* INTO FRIDAY MORNING

* A POWERFUL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE MIDWEST WILL BRING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN TO OUR AREA THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.

* WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED. LOCALIZED AMOUNTS UP TO A FOOT OF RAIN ARE POSSIBLE… INCLUDING ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE AND CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN IN MARYLAND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

THESE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE A DANGEROUS TIME… REQUIRING MORE THAN THE USUAL AWARENESS… PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS.

IF YOU ARE NEAR STREAMS OR DRAINAGE DITCHES… KEEP AN EYE ON THEM AND BE READY TO QUICKLY SEEK HIGHER GROUND. WATER MAY RISE RAPIDLY.

CLEAR OUT STORM DRAINS.

THOSE PRONE TO BASEMENT FLOODING SHOULD PREPARE. COMMUNITIES PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD PREPARE.

CONTINUE TO CHECK IN ON THE FORECAST FOR UPDATES.

WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED FOR AREAS WHERE FLOODING IS IMMINENT. ENSURE YOU GET WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THROUGH YOUR MOBILE PHONE AND OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR WHERE YOU ARE OR IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED.

ENSURE YOUR KIDS DONT PLAY NEAR FLOOD WATERS.

REMEMBER IF YOU COME ACROSS WATER CROSSING A ROAD… TURN AROUND DONT DROWN!”