Watches, Warnings & Advisories



5 products issued by NWS for: Washington DC

Air Quality Alert

DCZ001-190400-
District of Columbia-
440 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2026

...AIR QUALITY ALERT CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY JULY 18 2026...

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and District
Department of Environment has issued a Code ORANGE Air Quality
Alert Saturday for
the District of Columbia.

Concentrations of fine particulate matter due to wildfire smoke will
persist at levels consistent with an Air Quality Index of Unhealthy
(Red Alert) to Very Unhealthy (Purple Alert) Friday night into
Saturday morning. Air quality begins to improve Saturday afternoon.

Code Purple and Code Red Air Quality Alerts mean that air pollution
concentrations within the region are unhealthy to very unhealthy for
the general population.

A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution
concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive
groups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from
asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. The
effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous
activity or exercise outdoors.

For more information on ground-level ozone
and fine particles visit the web site
https://www.mwcog.org/environment/air/forecast/

$$



Severe Thunderstorm Watch

WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION FOR WATCHES 495/496
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
433 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2026

DCC001-MDC017-037-VAC003-013-047-059-061-079-099-107-113-125-137-
153-157-177-179-510-540-600-610-630-683-685-190100-
/O.CON.KLWX.SV.A.0496.000000T0000Z-260719T0100Z/

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 496 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

IN MARYLAND THIS WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES

IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND

CHARLES                       ST. MARYS

IN VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 22 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

ALBEMARLE
CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE
CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG
GREENE                       KING GEORGE
NELSON                       ORANGE
SPOTSYLVANIA

IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

ARLINGTON
CITY OF ALEXANDRIA
CITY OF FAIRFAX
CITY OF FALLS CHURCH
CITY OF MANASSAS
CITY OF MANASSAS PARK
CULPEPER                       FAIRFAX
FAUQUIER                       LOUDOUN
PRINCE WILLIAM
STAFFORD

IN NORTHWEST VIRGINIA

MADISON                       RAPPAHANNOCK

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ADAMS MORGAN, ADEN, AIRLIE,
ALEXANDRIA, ALSOP, ANNANDALE, ARKENDALE, ARLINGTON, BALLSTON,
BARCROFT, BETHEL, BROKENBURG, BROOKFIELD, BURKE, BURR HILL,
CALIFORNIA, CALLAWAY, CARDOVA, CATALPA, CHANTILLY,
CHARLOTTESVILLE, CHERRYDALE, CHESTER GAP, COUNTRYSIDE, CULPEPER,
DAHLGREN, DALE CITY, DAMERON, DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,
EVERONA, FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX STATION, FALLS CHURCH, FALMOUTH,
FIVE FORKS, FORDSVILLE, FREDERICKSBURG, GARRISONVILLE, GATEWOOD,
GLEEDSVILLE, GLENDIE, GREENFIELD, INDEPENDENT HILL, LAHORE,
LAKE RIDGE, LANGLEY, LEESBURG, LEXINGTON PARK, LUCKETTS,
MADISON MILLS, MADISON RUN, MANASSAS, MANASSAS PARK, MASSAPONAX,
MCLEAN, MONTCLAIR, MONTEBELLO, NASONS, OAK GROVE, ORANGE,
OVERTON, PARTLOW, PINEY POINT, POST OAK, RAPIDAN,
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, RESTON, REVA, RIDGE, RIVERCREST,
ROLLINS FORK, ROSSLYN, SHADY GROVE, SHILOH, SOTTERLEY,
SPOTSYLVANIA COURT, ST. CHARLES, STERLING PARK, STEVENSBURG,
TURNBULL, TWYMANS MILL, UNIONVILLE, WALDORF, WARRENTON,
WASHINGTON, WIDEWATER, WINSTON, AND WOODBRIDGE.

$$



Hazardous Weather Outlook

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
220 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508-
VAZ053>057-527-191830-
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-
220 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 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...This Afternoon and Tonight

A Heat Advisory is in effect until 7 PM for much of the area from
Baltimore southward.

A Tornado Watch is in effect for central and northeast Maryland
from Prince Georges County to Cecil Counties until 9 PM. A Severe
Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the rest of the area during
this time. Severe thunderstorms will be capable of producing
damaging winds with wind gusts around 70 mph, large hail, and
perhaps a tornado.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are possible
Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters have been activated.

$$



Flood Watch

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1143 AM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

.A slow-moving front will interact with a very humid airmass in
place to result in multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms this
afternoon and evening.

DCZ001-MDZ004>006-008-011-013-014-503>508-VAZ053-054-505-506-182345-
/O.EXB.KLWX.FA.A.0009.260718T1800Z-260719T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
District of Columbia-Frederick-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-Cecil-
Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Northwest
Montgomery-Central and Southeast Montgomery-Northwest Howard-
Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-Southeast Harford-
Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Western Loudoun-Eastern
Loudoun-
1143 AM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 8 PM EDT
THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be
  possible.

* WHERE...Washington DC, and portions of Maryland, including the
  following areas, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Cecil, Central and
  Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Frederick,
  Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Northwest Howard, Northwest
  Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford and Southern
  Baltimore, and northern Virginia, including the following areas,
  Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax and
  Western Loudoun.

* WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon through 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
  creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
  Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - High humidity coupled with a slow-moving front is expected to
    result in multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms this
    afternoon and evening. Localized rainfall rates of up to 2
    inches per hour, with isolated totals of 2 to 4 inches are
    possible.
  - Please visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety
    and preparedness information.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$



Heat Advisory

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
750 AM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-VAZ053>057-527-182300-
/O.CON.KLWX.HT.Y.0011.260718T1500Z-260718T2300Z/
District of Columbia-Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-Anne
Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Fairfax-Arlington/Falls
Church/Alexandria-Stafford-Spotsylvania-King George-Central and
Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-
750 AM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Heat index values around 105 expected.

* WHERE...Washington DC, and portions of central, northern, and
  southern Maryland, and central and northern Virginia.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 7 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
  illnesses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in
shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat
should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an
emergency! In cases of heat stroke, call 9 1 1.

&&

$$

DHOF