Updates: Flash flood warnings for District and surrounding areas with cars

3:05 p.m. — Heaviest rain along east branch of Beltway and along Interstate 95 north of Beltway

Radar shows the heaviest rain now generally north of downtown Washington between Takoma Park and Columbia, and also extending to the east and southeast from roughly Beltsville to Camp Springs. This rain is generally headed north up the Interstate 95 corridor into Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties and will likely cause areas of flooding.

In the past hour, the Weather Service has logged reports of flooding in Alexandria, Langley Park, Takoma Park, and Catholic University. Prince George’s County Fire and Rescue reported multiple water rescues in Hyattsville, Mount Rainer, and Brentwood. At 2:50 p.m.,the multiple vehicles were also reported stranded on the George Washington Parkway near Reagan National Airport in Alexandria.

Here are some more images of flooding:

2:45 p.m. — Flash flood warnings expanded into central Prince George’s County

2:40 p.m. — Streams are rising very rapidly

As torrential continues, mainly north and northeast of downtown Washington, the National Weather Service has logged some rapid rises in water on area streams:

• Stream gauge on Turkey Branch in Rockville rose 7 feet in just over an hour
• Stream gauge on Sligo Creek in Takoma Park rose 4 feet in an hour
• 3 to 4 feet of water is covering Beach Drive at Connecticut Avenue from flooded Rock Creek

2:30 p.m. — Radar shows large areas of 1.5 to 3 inches of rain

As shown in the image below, the heaviest rain has focused between Bethesda and Aspen Hill in Montgomery County, and from Alexandria through northeast parts of the District:

2:10 p.m. — Torrential rain in eastern half of District, where flooding is increasing

In hard-hit areas of southern Montgomery County around Bethesda and Kensington, which flooded earlier, the heaviest rain has eased. But now torrential rain is focused in the District, especially in areas downtown and to the east, western Prince George’s County, and extreme southeast Montgomery County.

The National Weather Service received a report of 6 to 8 inches of water flowing down 4th street in northeast D.C. and there have been reports of vehicles stranded in high water.

Here are some images of the flooding:

1:55 p.m. — Several reports of cars stranded in high water in Montgomery County

The National Weather Service has received several reports of cars stranded in high water in Montgomery County, including:

• A vehicle trapped on Dorset Ave. near Little Falls Parkway
• Three vehicle stranded near the intersection of Kensington Parkway and Beach Drive
• A vehicle stranded in high water near the intersection of Beach Drive and Wexford Drive in Kensington
• A vehicle trapped in high water near intersection of Colfax Street and Parkwood Drive in Kensington
• A vehicle trapped near intersection of Greentree Road and Md-187 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda
• Two vehicles trapped in high water near intersection of Arlington Road and Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda.
• Vehicle trapped in near 6000 Block of Alleghany Avenue in Takoma Park

Bethesda Beat reported that Montgomery County Fire and Rescue had received 50 emergency calls.

“There’s been dozens of cars in water,” spokesperson Pete Piringer told Bethesda Beat.

Do not attempt to drive through a flooded road in your vehicle. Turn around.

1:35 p.m. — Flash flood warning for eastern Fairfax County, the District, and western Prince George’s County

As a narrow corridor of heavy rainfall focuses on the immediate area, with downpours lined up one after another, a flash flood warning has been issued for eastern Fairfax County, the District, and western Prince George’s County until 4:30 p.m., in addition to the warning issued for southern Montgomery County issued earlier.

In this new flash flood warning zone, around 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain have fallen and another one to two inches are possible.

In general, 2 to 3 inches of rain could fall in areas where heavy downpours pass repeatedly, with some locally higher amounts not out of the question.

1:30 p.m. — Images of flooding from Montgomery County

12:50 p.m. — Flash flood warning for southern Montgomery County

A flash flood warning has been issued until 3:45 p.m. for much of southern Montgomery County and a small part of northwest D.C. Radar shows very heavy rainfall between Bethesda and Olney and around an inch has fallen in some areas and another inch or so could fall in the next hour.

“Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly,” the National Weather Service warned. Small creeks and poor-drainage areas are most vulnerable to flooding. Do not attempt to drive across a flooded road where the depth of the water may be deceptive.

12:15 p.m. — Showers have increased and some could be heavy this afternoon

Today’s forecast is a bit of a moving target as showers have increased across the region, cycling in and out from southeast to northwest. There are breaks between the showers, but also some embedded heavier downpours….