Weather Alert

HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND WEST OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY... A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM THE TENNESSEE VALLEY TODAY INTO THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES REGION BY THURSDAY EVENING. ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL MOVE NORTHWARD FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO INTO THE MID ATLANTIC TODAY AND TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. INTERACTION BETWEEN THE COLD FRONT AND A MOIST AIRMASS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MUCH OF THE AREA RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN THIS PAST WEEKEND... AND ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE SMALL STREAMS TO OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS. STORM DRAINS COULD ALSO BECOME CLOGGED WITH LEAVES...LEADING TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING URBAN AREAS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS. WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. TREES MAY BE UPROOTED WITH THESE WINDS AND MOIST GROUND.