Flood watch issued after heavy rains

May 26, 2009 - 12:03pm

The driver of this car, Renee Perry, tried to avoid an accident on the slick roads and ended sliding down an embankment off of South Dakota Avenue near Shepherd Street in the District. No one was injured. (Kristi King/WTOP Photo)

WASHINGTON - A flood watch has been issued for D.C., Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Howard, Arlington Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties and Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park and Alexandria until Wednesday morning.

A flood warning has been issued for Rock Creek at Rock Creek/Sherrill Drive. At 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, the creek was measured at 7.6 feet. Flood stage is 7 feet.

Two to three inches of rain has fallen in some areas over the past few hours, and the National Weather Service says the region could see another inch to two inches before the rain stops.

Some local roads are closed due to flooding:

D.C.

Mount Olivet Road in Northeast from West Virginia Avenue to Trinidad Avenue
Beach Drive between Blagden Avenue and Military Road

Virginia

Route 50 East closed 1/4 of a mile east of Gum Spring Road due to high water
On US-50 (John Mosby Hwy) in Loudoun County near Gum Spring Rd; Rt. 659 motorists can expect major delays due to standing water. The east left shoulder, left lane, center lane, right lane, and right shoulder are closed.
Lawyers Road at Hunter Station Road in Fairfax County.

Maryland

Sligo Creek Parkway in Montgomery County
Beach Drive near Connecticut Avenue and the D.C. line

There are also reports of several problems with traffic lights in the region.

Low-lying areas and areas near small creeks and streams are more prone to flooding. Drivers and pedestrians should not attempt to cross swiftly moving waters or waters of unknown depth.

Meanwhile, three people were rescued on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast after their cars became stuck in about four feet of water.

A D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman says two of the people were transported to an area hospital and are being treated for hypothermia. They are expected to be okay.

High water in Vienna -at the intersection of Old Courthouse Road and Besley Road - trapped a father and daughter in their small station wagon. The area, deep within woods and near streams, is prone to flooding; a permanent yellow road sign mesasures water in one-foot increments. On Tuesday morning, water hovered around the two-foot mark.

On Monday afternoon, several motorists were rescued in Beltsville after their cars were stranded by flash flooding brought on by torrential rain.