Isaias remnants soak D.C. with up to 2 inches of rain

The National Weather Service warned Washington and the D.C. region on Sunday of 1 to 2 inches of rain and winds reaching 30 mph from Isaias remnants, WTOP reported.

The Sunday weather made travel and outdoor plans harder across the region before a forecast improvement, with Monday highs expected at 70 to 75 degrees, versus 63 to 68 degrees on Sunday.

The main threats were periods of rain, possible thunderstorms and gusty winds. The National Weather Service described the strongest winds as potentially “damaging,” according to the WTOP weather report.

7News meteorologist Mark Peña said the rain “could cause some minor instances of flash flooding of creeks, streams and low-water crossings.” The risk was tied to smaller waterways and low-lying road spots that can become hazardous during intense rain.

Peña also singled out the Washington Commanders’ home game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, as a place where the timing mattered. Fans heading there “want to make sure you’re packing the rain gear because that’s when the rain could be heaviest at times,” he said.

Forecasters also flagged a low but serious severe-weather risk for the evening. “A couple of brief tornadoes are possible this afternoon to evening, mainly east of the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Mountains,” the National Weather Service advisory said, according to WTOP.

WTOP reported that severe thunderstorm or possible tornado warnings could be issued after 4 p.m. The published material did not report any confirmed tornadoes in the District or nearby jurisdictions.

The formal alerts were concentrated outside central Washington. A coastal flood advisory ran until at least 6 p.m. Sunday for Charles County, Maryland, and King George County, Virginia.

Anne Arundel County was under a coastal flood advisory until 11 p.m. Sunday. Parts of Virginia along the Blue Ridge were under a flood watch through Sunday night, according to the WTOP report.

Power outages cited by WTOP were also mostly outside the District. BGE reported more than 3,300 residents without power as of 3:50 p.m., with Baltimore accounting for the largest share and Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties also among the most affected areas.

For D.C. residents, the practical effect was a wet, windy end to the weekend rather than a reported citywide emergency. The Sunday forecast called for east winds of 10 to 20 mph, with stronger gusts possible, and highs in the 60s.

The storm reaching the region was the weakened inland remainder of Isaias. Atlas360 previously reported that Isaias had left about 840,000 customers without electricity across three states and had disrupted Gulf Coast energy production before moving inland.

The forecast called for rain to persist into Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day on Monday, though the chance of heavy rain was expected to ease through the morning. Clouds and some sun were expected later in the day.

The midweek outlook was calmer. WTOP’s forecast called for sunshine Tuesday with highs of 73 to 78 degrees and south winds of 5 to 10 mph, followed by sunny conditions Wednesday with highs of 74 to 79 degrees.

Source: weather report, WTOP, Oct. 12