Flooding in NW Washington DC and suburbs

[marmar]

By Brian K. Sullivan


Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Heavy rain snarled traffic and inundated streets in Washington and its suburbs today, prompting the National Weather Service to issue area flood warnings.

The rain will continue through tomorrow morning and then skies will begin to clear, according to Heather Sheffield, a weather service meteorologist in Sterling, Virginia.

“The rain mainly hit northwest Washington,” Sheffield said. “We are expecting rain showers and thunderstorms throughout the day and an inch or two could fall later today.”

The flood warning for the District of Columbia and parts of Virginia and Maryland was to be lifted at mid-morning, she said. A warning means rising water is imminent or has been reported. However, a flood watch, meaning flooding is possible, will continue until tonight, Sheffield said.

Rainfall amounts varied widely throughout the region, she said. Parts of Fairfax County in Virginia reported 3.14 inches (8 centimeters) of rain, while Washington’s Reagan National Airport, also in Virginia, reported 0.37 inches. Annapolis, Maryland, had just over 2 inches, Sheffield said.

Rock Creek at Sherrill Drive rose from 2.2 feet at 2 a.m. to 7.62 feet, above the 7-foot flood stage, at 8 a.m., according to weather service river gauges. ............(more)

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