2018 Wettest Year On Record In DC Region, Flood Watch In Effect

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WASHINGTON, DC — It's official, but probably not a surprise to anyone in northern Virginia that 2018 was the wettest year on record, and a flood watch is in effect for NoVA and Washington, D.C., the National Weather Service says. At 6:26 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, the record for the wettest calendar year on record was set at Reagan National Airport with a total of 61.34 inches of rain received in the area, which broke the record set in 1889.

But the record will go up with more rain drenching the DC region this weekend, and possibly later this month. A flood watch took effect at noon Saturday and continues until 6 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. Anyone living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding occur, forecasters warn.

The National Weather Service says the watch may be extended, or changed to a warning as the rains continue. Moderate rainfall is expected with locally heavy rain possible. Rainfall amounts of 1.5 to 2.5 inches are most likely, with locally higher amounts of 3 to 4 inches possible. Runoff from the rainfall may cause creeks and streams to rise out of their banks as well as the potential for flooding in urban areas.

Here's the latest forecast:

Saturday: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog. High near 45. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog. Low around 37. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: Occasional rain before 4pm, then a chance of rain and snow. High near 41. North wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Sunday Night: Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 34. West wind 3 to 8 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

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