Dave Sweet

WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) A flood watch will be in effect for the D.C. metro area from Tuesday morning until Tuesday evening, according to The Weather Channel’s Mark Thibodeau.

“Some of this rain looks like it could turn out to be on the heavy side,” Thibodeau told WMAL’s Francis Rose on the Drive at 5. “[We’re exepecting] 1-inch to 1/4-inch of rain on top of what we see overnight.”

Thibodeau says temperatures will cool-down overnight, creating icy conditions, and then heat back up to the high 30’s by Tuesday morning, enabling the ice and snow to melt very quickly.

“What happens is that warm air overruns the cold air,” he said. “When it meets the surface it freezes upon contact.”

Freezing rain on tree limbs is a major concern, says Thibodeau. He warns that within the span of 24 hours we could see a unique combination of snow, ice and flooding.

(Photo: Dave Sweet)