A heavy spring rainfall dampened plans Saturday and caused minor flooding near rivers and creeks across the region.
But the real threat of flooding looms Sunday as the National Weather Service called for up to an inch more of rain overnight Saturday. The service had extended its flood watch through Sunday evening.
“It’s just a matter of how high the rivers will crest,” NWS Metereologist Kevin Witt said.
The deluge preemptively closed portions of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Saturday because of predictions the river would crest at 24 to 26 feet, according to the National Park Service.
Maryland Natural Resources Police had also cautioned boaters to avoid the Upper Potomac River and its nearby creeks and streams. Long-delayed construction work on the Chain Bridge connecting D.C. and Virginia was also postponed yet again because of wind and rain forecasts.
Brad Wip, who works at the Mai Thai restaurant at the base of King Street in Alexandria, said his feet got wet when he arrived at work Saturday morning. The streets near the Potomac River were flooded with up to eight inches of water, he said.
Brad Wip, who works at the Mai Thai restaurant at the base of King Street in Alexandria, said his feet got wet when he arrived at work Saturday morning. The streets near the Potomac River were flooded with up to eight inches of water, he said.
“It came a little bit into our restaurant,” he said, adding that, by midday, the water had already receded.
Yet in other parts of the region, creeks were just starting to breach their banks by midday. Montgomery County Police said rising water was forcing the closure of roads at Emory Lane and Pinetree Road in Rockville and a stretch of Brookeville Road near Georgia Avenue in Brookeville. Roads had also been closed in parts of western Loudoun County, Witt said.
The rain is supposed to continue into Monday, but sunshine is expected to return by Tuesday, with temperatures approaching 60 degrees.
