

000 

WGUS71 KLWX 112138

FFSLWX

DCZ001-MDZ009-010-013-VAZ041-042-051>054-120000-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON

536 PM EDT SAT AUG 11 2001



...TORRENTIAL RAINS OVER THE WASHINGTON METRO AREA...



A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM FOR A LARGE 

PORTION OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA FROM CULPEPER COUNTY THROUGH FAUQUIER 

AND PRINCE WILLIAM FAIRFAX LOUDOUN AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF 

COLUMBIA AND PRINCE GEORGES MONTGOMERY AND HOWARD COUNTIES IN 

MARYLAND. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH FLOODING OCCURING OVER 

MUCH OF THE AREA.



AS OF 535 PM DOPPLER RADAR WAS SHOWING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH 

TORRENTIAL RAINS CENTERED ON FAIRFAX LOUDOUN THE DISTRICT AND 

MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGES COUNTIES. OTHER LESS INTENSE STORMS 

WERE OCCURING IN ADJOINING COUNTIES. MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WAS SLOW 

AND ERRATIC.



THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING RAINFALL RATES OF 3 INCHES OR MORE PER 

HOUR. 3.50 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN CENTERVILLE VIRGINIA IN ONE HOUR. 

3.25 INCHES OF RAIN WAS MEASURED IN HERNDON IN WESTERN FAIRFAX 

COUNTY IN 90 MINUTES. 3.65 INCHES WAS MEASURED IN VIENNA IN JUST ONE 

HOUR. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN WILL PRODUCE SERIOUS FLOODING OF 

SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS AS WELL AS WIDESPREAD ROAD FLOODING. 

NUMEROUS FLOODED ROADS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN MONTGOMERY FAIRFAX AND 

THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY.



DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ATTEMPT TO DRIVE INTO FLOOD WATERS.

MORE PEOPLE DIE IN FLOODS IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA THAN FROM ANY 

OTHER WEATHER PHENOMENA...AND MOST OF THOSE FATALITIES OCCUR AS 

PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO DRIVE INTO FLOOD WATERS. JUST YESTERDAY DISTRICT 

FIRE FIGHTERS HAD TO RESCUE A MOTORISTS STRANDED IN FLOOD 

WATERS.    



STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER 

DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR 

WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/LWX



$$

JLW

