Updated Thursday, 2:55 p.m.
The National Weather Service has extended the flood watch until midnight.
Original post, Thursday, 12:29 p.m.
Very heavy rainfall is possible throughout much of Virginia this afternoon with the potential for two to four inches of rain in one to two hours.
A flood watch has been issued starting at 3 p.m. due to the possibility of heavy rain and flash flooding.
According to the National Weather Service, widespread thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into this evening. The thunderstorms will be capable of producing very heavy rainfall with localized rainfall totals of two to four inches possible in a one- to two-hour period.
This may result in flash flooding of small streams and creeks as well as urban and poor drainage areas.
The flood watch includes:
- Albemarle
- Augusta
- Central Virginia Blue Ridge
- Central and Southeast Prince William
- Clarke
- Culpeper
- Eastern Loudoun
- Frederick
- Greene
- Madison
- Manassas
- Manassas Park
- Northern Fauquier
- Northern Virginia Blue Ridge
- Northwest Prince William
- Orange
- Page
- Rappahannock
- Rockingham
- Shenandoah
- Southern Fauquier
- Spotsylvania
- Stafford
- Warren
- Western Loudoun
The flood watch also includes the panhandle of West Virginia including Berkeley and Jefferson.
The Shenandoah region including Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren and Clarke counties remain under a drought advisory.
Visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and weather preparedness information.
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