Heavy rain is expected to cause flooding and a wind warning will be issued in Northern Virginia. Winds could reach 55 mph on Tuesday.
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VIRGINIA – Instead of a blanket of white snow, Northern Virginia saw mainly rain for the first half of the weekend. Rain will return again on Tuesday with the addition of strong winds and a flood watch when another winter storm hits the area.
Most areas in Northern Virginia and D.C. received less than an inch, or no trace of snow during Saturday's winter storm. The rain continued for most of the day and will return on Tuesday.
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A powerful rainstorm is headed into the D.C. area on Tuesday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a wind warning and flood watch. According to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang, windier conditions and heavier rain are possible Tuesday evening into the night from 5 p.m. to midnight. The Capital Weather Gang says another strong storm is likely on Friday. Tuesday and Friday's storms could bring high winds, heavy rain, select areas of flooding and possible downed trees.
The National Weather Service expects moderate to heavy rain to fall on the area Tuesday afternoon and evening. Rainfall is expected to reach 2 to 3 inches, but up to 4 inches is possible in local areas. A flood watch from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning indicates the possibility of flooding due to heavy rain. Rivers, creeks, creeks and other low-lying, flood-prone areas can be inundated.
Some of the areas under a flood watch are the Columbia County and northern Virginia areas of Arlington County, Falls Church, Alexandria, southeastern and northwestern Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, and Stafford County.
The wind advisory from 3 p.m. Tuesday to 1 a.m. Wednesday calls for winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of up to 50 to 55 mph. Gusty winds can cause power outages for some time, blowing tree branches and moving unsafe items outside.
The wind warning applies to the greater area, including Columbia County, Arlington County, Falls Church, Alexandria, central, southeast and northwest Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County and Stafford County.
Here's the National Weather Service's forecast for the coming days in D.C.
Monday: Mostly sunny, the maximum temperature is close to 48, clouds increase at night, and the minimum is around 33.
Tuesday: Heavy rain at times, with a high near 61. Windy, with east winds 9 to 14 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Wind speeds could reach 39 mph. The chance of rain is 100 percent with between 1 and 2 inches. Overnight, rain, mainly before 1 a.m. with a low around 44. Windy, with a southeast wind 23 to 28 mph becoming southwest 16 to 21 mph after midnight. Wind speeds can reach 47 mph.
Wednesday: Slight chance of rain before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 24 mph, with gusts up to 38 mph. The probability of rain is 20 percent. At night, it is partly cloudy, and the minimum temperature is around 32.
Thursday: Sunny, high around 51 and mostly clear at night, low around 34.
Friday: Chance of rain after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. A 50 percent chance of rain. At night, rain with a low around 44 and breezy. The chance of rain is 90 percent.
Saturday: Chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Breezy. The probability of rain is 30 percent. At night, the weather is partly cloudy, the minimum temperature is around 30 degrees, and the weather is sunny.
Sunday: Partly sunny, high around 41.
