Flooded roads: ‘Don’t take the chance’

The rain caused the road to buckle at Huntmaster and Davis Mill roads in Montgomery County. This road was not on the county's list of closed roads. (Courtesy of Sam Coleman)
Montgomery County Assistant Fire Chief Scott Graham says drivers shouldn't try to cross flooded roads, like this driver tried to do on Riffle Ford Road. (Montgomery County Fire/Scott Graham)
Flooding closed Beach Drive from from Franklin Street in Kensington, Md. to the D.C. line. (WTOP/Kristi King)
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WASHINGTON – Rains that doused the region left roads flooded across the WTOP listening area, prompting flood warnings — some into Saturday.

Flood warnings for Montgomery County

The National Weather Service extended until Friday morning a flood warning for Seneca Creek at Dawsonville. At 9 a.m. the creek was at 11.1 feet, and flood stage is 7.5 feet. The river will fall below flood stage Thursday afternoon.

A flood warning means that flooding is imminent or has been reported.

Flood warnings for Prince George’s, Howard and Anne Arundel counties

The National Weather Service has extended a flood warning until 6:30 p.m. for the following areas:

  • Extreme southwestern Anne Arundel County;
  • Extreme south-central Howard County;
  • Extreme northeastern Prince George’s County.

The National Weather Service says at 10:31 a.m. water was being released from Brighton and Duckett dams on the Patuxent River.

Depending on how much water is released, the weather service says as a result, “significant high water, perhaps higher than has been experienced in many years is expected downstream of Duckett Dam along the Patuxent River.”

The weather service says that depending on how much water is released, parts of Laurel and Bowie could flood.

Flooding also is possible later Thursday near Crofton, Bowie and Upper Marlboro as the Little Patuxent River empties into the Patuxent.

Flood warnings for Frederick County, Md.

In Frederick County, Md. a flood warning continues for the Monocacy River near Frederick. The river was 15.9 feet at 8 a.m., and flood stage is 15 feet. The river will fall below flood stage Thursday night.

Much of Pinecliff Park and Rivermist Park are flooded. The flood waters are approaching the parking lot of Buckeystown Community Park.

Frederick County has a number of flooded and blocked roads.

A flood warning for the Potomac River at Point of Rocks has been issued until Saturday evening.

Flood warnings for Loudoun County, Va.

In Loudoun County, there are flood warnings for small streams until 1 p.m. Thursday.

Smaller streams at 10:42 a.m. were about to crest, the National Weather Service reports. After cresting, they’ll continue to fall through the afternoon.

A flood warning for Loudoun County’s Goose Creek near Leesburg continues until late Thursday night.

The National Weather Service says at 9 a.m. the creek was at 17.9 feet. Flood stage is 12 feet.

Flood warnings for Culpeper and Fauquier counties

The flood warning continues for the Rapidan River near Culpeper until late Thursday. The river was at 13.4 feet at 10 a.m. and is expected to rise to near 14.2 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet.

The weather service extended until late Thursday a flood warning for the Rappahannock River at Remington.

Coastal flood advisories

The National Weather Service also posted a coastal flood advisory until 1 p.m. for D.C., Alexandria, Falls Church and Arlington.

HIGH WATER ON ROADS

In Rock Creek Park, Beach Drive is closed both ways from Franklin Street in Kensington, Md. to the D.C. line due to flooding.

In Potomac, Md., flooding has closed River Road in both directions west of Travilah Road at Pennyfield Lock Road.

Montgomery County has compiled a list of roads where high water is reported.

In Montgomery County, there have been seven water rescues since the flooding started.

Police and fire officials are warning drivers to use caution and not drive on flooded roads.

Montgomery County Assistant Fire Chief Scott Graham says most of the stranded drivers are people were “trying to give it a run” through roads that were clearly flooded.

“Don’t take the chance. Find an alternate route,” Graham tells WTOP.

“Certainly sitting in stranded water, waiting for us to rescue you that’s going to take a lot more time,” he says.

Graham tweeted this photo of one stranded driver.

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