Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Baltimore/Washington

July 7, 2026Fairfax County, Prince William County, Virginia

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this flash flood warning at Jul 7, 2026, 12:13 AM EDT for Fairfax County, Prince William County, Virginia. It was in force for 77 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 7, 2026, 12:13 AM EDT (04:13 UTC)
Expired
Jul 7, 2026, 1:30 AM EDT
In force
77 min
Issued by
NWS Baltimore/Washington
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Fairfax County, VA, Prince William County, VA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:18 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 4.2 hours before the alert went out and 35 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2026-07-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1792 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2026-07-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1792 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
916 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
69 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
3.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

618 
WGUS51 KLWX 070413
FFWLWX
VAC059-153-070715-
/O.NEW.KLWX.FF.W.0013.260707T0413Z-260707T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1213 AM EDT Tue Jul 7 2026

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Fairfax County in northern Virginia...
  Eastern Prince William County in northern Virginia...

* Until 315 AM EDT.

* At 1213 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Dale City...                       Springfield...
  Fort Hunt...                       Fort Belvoir...
  Woodbridge...                      Lake Ridge...
  Burke...                           Lorton...
  Franconia...                       Newington...
  Mount Vernon...                    Mason Neck...
  Occoquan...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 3874 7733 3875 7720 3873 7708 3871 7707
      3870 7709 3868 7712 3867 7712 3866 7714
      3865 7712 3863 7713 3862 7717 3861 7723
      3863 7724 3861 7724 3861 7729 3864 7734
      3866 7738 3868 7738 3869 7736

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

CJL
1 follow-up statement
317 
WGUS71 KLWX 070530
FFSLWX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
130 AM EDT Tue Jul 7 2026

VAC059-153-070540-
/O.CAN.KLWX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260707T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Fairfax VA-Prince William VA-
130 AM EDT Tue Jul 7 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY HAS BEEN 
REPLACED WITH A FLOOD WARNING...
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN FAIRFAX 
COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for portions of DC, 
Maryland, and Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3866 7738 3868 7738 3869 7736 3872 7734
      3872 7733 3871 7733 3870 7733 3870 7732
      3871 7730 3868 7726 3867 7725 3866 7723
      3865 7723 3865 7722 3863 7724 3862 7724
      3861 7724 3861 7729

$$

CJL

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 6, 9:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Heavy showers and strong thunderstorms could cause some areas to flash flood or flood during the latter part of this evening into the early overnight before weakening. The next round of heavy showers and thunderstorms will be Tuesday.
  • 2) Daily shower and thunderstorm chances continue as a cold front brings precipitation and the return of seasonable temperatures.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 9:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
935 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Flood Warnings and Flash Flood Warnings are in effect for parts
of Northeast MD, central MD, and northeastern VA. Afternoon
heavy showers and strong thunderstorms earlier concentrated
over Northeast MD, parts of the VA Piedmont, and western MD have
since weakened and/or moved to now becoming located over the
eastern WV Panhandle, northeastern VA and central MD. A few
other big storms with heavy rain are over eastern portions of
the VA Piedmont. This activity should gradually weaken
overnight, primarily after midnight.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Heavy showers and strong thunderstorms could cause some
  areas to flash flood or flood during the latter part of this
  evening into the early overnight before weakening. The next
  round of heavy showers and thunderstorms will be Tuesday.

- 2) Daily shower and thunderstorm chances continue as a cold
  front brings precipitation and the return of seasonable
  temperatures.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Heavy showers and strong thunderstorms could
cause some areas to flash flood or flood during the latter part
of this evening into the early overnight before weakening. The
next round of heavy showers and thunderstorms will be Tuesday.

A backdoor front has been sagging southwestward across Northeast
Maryland, into central parts of Maryland, into Washington D.C.
and parts of northeastern Virginia. This front, along with
preluded instability, has allowed for several batches of heavy
showers and strong thunderstorms with frequent lightning and
very heavy rainfall to develop during the early half of this
evening. There are a few Flash Flood and Flood Warnings
currently out for another few hours. Rainfall rates has been in
the range of 2 to 3 inches per hour with rain amounts in the 1
to 3 inches and still raining in some places. This activity
should weaken and slowly move south with the front through the
midnight hour. However, locations anywhere near and along the
I-95 corridor, US 50, I-97, I-66, and I-70 should heed caution
should you encounter one of these torrential downpours. You
should slow your speed down since it is at night and any flooded
roads may be temporarily hidden due to darkness. Flood Watches
remain in effect through midnight tonight.

The pattern aloft features a very broad positively- tilted
trough stretching from the Upper Great Lakes down toward the
Ozarks. As this trough edges eastward, a series of impulses will
continue to ride over the mentioned surface boundary. There is
some hint of this upper trough weakening, but its remnants would
slowly migrate eastward to the Atlantic coast during the next
couple days. All in all, this will lend itself toward additional
active weather days over the Mid- Atlantic region.

Where this frontal zone lies on Tuesday will dictate the level
of threat for additional active weather. The forecast suggests
this boundary should lie along I-66/US-50 during the morning
hours before sagging southward to the Virginia/North Carolina
border by the night. Thus, there is some risk for additional
convection which includes a few severe storms and further flash
flooding. Marginal Risk areas are being advertised for both the
severe and flood threats with this system. Mainly overcast skies
and northeasterly onshore winds should hold temperatures below
average into Tuesday. Forecast highs will be in the upper 70s to
mid 80s, with upper 60s to 70s for mountain locales.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Daily shower and thunderstorm chances continue as a
cold front brings precipitation and the return of seasonable
temperatures.

An approaching cold front brings showers and thunderstorms to the
forecast area Thursday into Friday. Hot and humid conditions
will lead to moderate instability. This along with modest shear
may result in at least isolated severe potential. With plenty
of moisture in the atmosphere, heavy rainfall will also be
possible. The cold front slowly pushes across the forecast area
Friday night and into Saturday with seasonable temperatures
expected in its wake. High temperatures for the weekend will be
in the upper 70s to 80s with overnight low temperates dropping
into the 60s to low 70s.

Heading into early next week, there are signs at a potentially
amplified pattern which could bring a return to storm chances.

&&

.AVIATION /01Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
IFR to MVFR conditions will prevail at terminals where heavy
showers and thunderstorms exist over the next couple of hours.
Winds could gust to 30 to 40 knots in any strong thunderstorms.

For Tuesday, the main frontal zone slowly begins to pull south
of I-66/US-50. However, its close proximity will keep showers
and thunderstorms in the picture again. Additional storm-driven
restrictions are possible in this environment. Expect mainly
northeasterly winds over the area as this boundary continues
pushing southward.

Southwest winds on Thursday blow 5 to 10 knots across the terminals.
Showers and thunderstorms may result in flight restrictions with
reduced ceilings and visibilities. Winds shift to westerly on
Friday, gusting up to 15 knots in the afternoon. Showers and
thunderstorms continue to be possible Friday afternoon. Winds shift
to northwest in the wake of a frontal passage Saturday, gusting
around 15 knots in the afternoon.

&&

.MARINE...
Weak summertime gradients will largely keep the marine zones
free of Small Craft Advisories. However, additional days of
active convection should lead to a greater threat of Special
Marine Warnings. Besides the gusty thunderstorm winds, other
hazards would include frequent lightning and very heavy rain.
The most active period is likely through Tuesday given a frontal
zone nearby. As this boundary sags southward to the Carolinas,
daily convection becomes less widespread for Wednesday.

Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms lead to a risk for SMWs
Thursday and Friday. Southwest winds on Thursday shift to westerly
on Friday, remaining mainly below SCA criteria each day. On
Saturday, winds shift to northwesterly in the wake of a frontal
passage.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Light onshore (east to northeast flow) the next couple days
followed by southerly flow will cause rising tides later this
week. This may result in near minor flooding of vulnerable
shoreline the second half of this week.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for DCZ001.
MD...Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for MDZ003>006-008-011-
     013-014-016>018-501>508-510.
VA...Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for VAZ025>031-037>040-
     050-051-053>057-501-502-505>507-526-527.
WV...Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for WVZ050>053-055-
     502>504-506.
MARINE...Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for ANZ530.

&&

DISCUSSION...AVS/KLW/DHOF
AVIATION...AVS/KLW/DHOF
MARINE...AVS/KLW/DHOF
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 4:04 PM EDT, 8 hours 9 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
404 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026

ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508-
VAZ053>057-527-072015-
Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island MD-
Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point MD-
Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to North Beach MD-
Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point MD-
Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA-
Tidal Potomac from Key Bridge to Indian Head MD-
Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Cobb Island MD-
Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA-
Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor-
Chester River to Queenstown MD-Eastern Bay-
Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River-
Patuxent River to Broomes Island MD-
Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth
Island-District of Columbia-Cecil-Southern Baltimore-
Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-
Central and Southeast Montgomery-Central and Southeast Howard-
Southeast Harford-Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-
Stafford-Spotsylvania-King George-
Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-
404 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Maryland portion of the
Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through
central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Flood Watch is in effect until midnight.

A few severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are possible
this afternoon and evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Instances of urban or poor drainage flooding remain possible
through Tuesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed today.

MDZ003>006-503-505-507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501-502-505>508-
526-WVZ050>053-055-072015-
Washington-Frederick-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-
Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard-Northwest Harford-Augusta-
Rockingham-Shenandoah-Page-Warren-Clarke-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-
Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-Northern Fauquier-
Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Northwest Prince William-Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-
Hardy-
404 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern West
Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and central and western
Maryland.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Flood Watches are in effect for much of the area until midnight.

A few severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are possible
this afternoon and evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Instances of urban or poor drainage flooding remain possible
through Tuesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed today.

MDZ501-502-509-510-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-072015-
Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany-
Western Garrett-Eastern Garrett-Western Highland-Eastern Highland-
Western Grant-Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-
Western Pendleton-Eastern Pendleton-
404 PM EDT Mon Jul 6 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Allegheny Front
counties in western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and Highland
County Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Flood Watch is in effect for much of the area until midnight.

A few severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are possible
this afternoon and evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Instances of flooding remain possible through Tuesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed today.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 6, 8:48 PM EDT, 3 hours 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
848 PM EDT Mon Jul 06 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0743 PM     Flash Flood      2 NNE Pumphrey          39.25N  76.63W
07/06/2026                   Baltimore City     MD   Emergency Mngr

            The 600 block of W Patapsco Ave is closed due to one to
            two feet of flowing water.

&&

Event Number LWX2607284

JMG
Local storm report, Jul 6, 11:52 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1152 PM EDT Mon Jul 06 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1143 PM     Flash Flood      3 NNE Nokesville        38.74N  77.56W
07/06/2026                   Prince William     VA   Emergency Mngr

            Flooding reported in resident's basement (water up to
            chest per emergency manager) on Rain Slicker Place

&&

Event Number LWX2607285

BRO

The office that day

Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 6, 10:33 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX57 min
Jul 6, 10:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXPrince William, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park33 min
Jul 6, 11:07 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningLWXPrince William, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park5 hr
Jul 6, 11:29 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningLWXLoudoun6 hr
Jul 7, 12:50 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningLWXFauquier3 hr
Jul 7, 1:11 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatLWXFauquier3 hr
Jul 7, 1:30 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningLWXPrince William3 hr
Jul 7, 4:03 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningLWXFauquier4 hr
Jul 7, 4:04 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningLWXPrince William, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park4 hr
Jul 7, 4:44 AM EDTFlood WatchLWXAlbemarle, Amherst, Augusta, Culpeper, Frederick, Greene and 15 more16 hr
Jul 7, 5:13 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningLWXPage, Shenandoah2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.