Flash flooding is now underway across Washington DC and surrounding areas following a rapid series of severe thunderstorms that moved through the region late Wednesday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning at 5:44 PM EDT, citing radar-confirmed rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches every 20 minutes, with additional accumulation expected to reach 3 inches in some zones. The warning remains active until at least 8:45 PM, with urban infrastructure, low-lying roads, and underpasses already experiencing water overflow. The affected corridor includes Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Springfield, and Reagan National Airport, among others. Emergency services have advised residents to avoid travel and remain indoors due to both flooding and the risk of damaging winds.
The storm system is part of a larger frontal pattern sweeping through the Mid-Atlantic, intensified by residual moisture from Tropical Storm Chantal. Doppler radar shows a convergence zone south of Baltimore, with heavy rain bands moving east and west across the I-95 corridor. In DC proper, Sherman Avenue NW was reported flooded by Engine 4’s firehouse, prompting DC Fire and EMS to issue a “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” alert. Visibility dropped sharply in Southeast DC, with streets resembling streams within 20 minutes of rainfall onset. Capitol Hill and Bloomingdale saw similar conditions, with continuous thunder and near-zero visibility captured in multiple videos.
JUST IN – Flash flood warning issued for Washington DC pic.twitter.com/wWCmljSgMM
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The National Weather Service has also issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch through midnight, warning of wind gusts up to 70 mph and isolated hail. A broader Flood Watch remains in effect for Baltimore City, Northern Virginia, and parts of Maryland until midnight. The rainfall threat is compounded by saturated soil from previous storms, increasing runoff and reducing absorption capacity. Rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour are possible through the evening, with additional rounds of storms expected overnight.
Residents are urged to charge devices, secure outdoor items, and prepare for possible power outages. Emergency alerts are active across all major platforms. The DC area has not seen rainfall of this intensity since September 2023, when remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia caused similar flash flooding across the region.
Sources
https://abcnews.go.com/US/flood-watch-effect-washington-dc-major-mid-atlantic/story?id=123626654