CALIFORNIA, Md. — Southern Maryland is under a Flood Watch beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 31, through 2 a.m. Friday, August 1, as forecasters warn of a moderate risk for flash flooding due to multiple rounds of thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service’s Baltimore/Washington office issued the watch for St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Charles counties, along with surrounding areas including the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and much of central Maryland. Rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected across the region, with localized amounts of 4 to 6 inches possible where storms repeatedly track over the same areas.
The most intense downpours are likely between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday. Forecasters say rain could fall at rates of 1 to 2 inches in just 30 minutes, rapidly overwhelming storm drains and flooding streets, streams, and low-lying roads.
Waldorf, La Plata, and Lexington Park are among the communities included in the area of “Moderate Risk” — a Level 3 out of 4 on the NWS flash flood threat scale — where a worst-case scenario of 6 inches of rain could unfold.
“Most flood fatalities occur in vehicles,” the NWS warned in a public graphic issued early Thursday. “Just 12 inches of water can sweep a car off the road.”
While Southern Maryland faces the brunt of the hazard, residents across the broader I-95 corridor — including Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, and Montgomery counties — are also at risk. Local officials urge people to stay weather-aware, especially during the evening commute, and to avoid driving through flooded roadways.
For real-time updates and flood safety tips, visit weather.gov/flood.
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