Maryland weather: Storms, heavy rain possible Thursday night and throughout weekend

Don’t put away the rain jackets and umbrellas just yet.

The wet weather in the Baltimore region is expected to continue Thursday night and has the potential to carry into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to be scattered throughout the night, the weather service said, and downpours remain a possibility. The chance of rain is around 50% and a low of 72 degrees is in the forecast.

The rain closed coronavirus testing sites at Stillmeadow and St. Bernardine on Thursday in the city.

The potential for more wet weather comes after 3.5 inches of rain fell Wednesday, according to measurements at BWI Marshall Airport, and an additional 0.54 fell Thursday morning. About 2.5 inches of Wednesday’s total fell in less than an hour, the weather service said.

Thunderstorms remain in the forecast every day through Sunday.

Friday will have a high of 85 and a low of 70 degrees, with the showers and thunderstorms possible. The chance of rain is around 50%.

Slightly lower temperatures are forecast for Saturday with a cloudy day and a high of 81. Chance of showers is 50% during the day but by Sunday night it jumps to 70% with the potential for heavy rain. The low is 71 degrees.

The rain is expected to remain Sunday, with the chance of rain and thunderstorms still at 70% with a high of 81 and low of 67 degrees.

A flash flood watch was in effect across most of Maryland for most of Thursday but the weather service canceled it by 8:45 p.m.

Potential impacts of flash floods include rapid rises of water, flooded roads and flooding of structures in low-lying areas near streams. Landslides and washouts are also possible.

Wednesday’s storms wreaked havoc for commuters.

Reports of flooded roads began coming in early at night. According to a 911 report to the National Weather Service, the 2100 block of Frederick Road in Catonsville was impassable.

The Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department helped rescue a driver who was swept off the road at Race Road near the Anne Arundel and Howard County line. The driver was forced to stand on the roof of the car, according to the Howard County Fire Department.

The two right lanes of Bore 1 of the Fort McHenry Tunnel on Interstate 95 southbound were temporarily closed because of high water.

The MARC commuter No. 859 train was canceled Wednesday night because of flash flooding affecting the area, and Baltimore firefighters responded to water rescues, advising drivers to avoid Baltimore-Washington Parkway because of flooding.

Evacuation alarms went off periodically late Wednesday afternoon and early Wednesday night in Howard County’s Ellicott City, where two deadly floods have occurred since 2016. The weather service said up to 2 inches of rain had fallen in the area as of 4:30 p.m.

Main Street from Rogers Avenue to Maryland Avenue was closed to all traffic. Residents have been urged to seek higher ground immediately.

Residents such as Deirdre Foley Citro watched from her apartment, which overlooks Parking Lot D in downtown Ellicott City, as the flood warning alarm rang and water rose in the Tiber Tributary that passes through the parking lot.

Water ran high and fast behind Christina Page’s house in the West End section of Ellicott City. Page, who has lived in Ellicott City since 2016, said the water was just under 6 feet as of 6:35 p.m.

Howard County’s Office of Emergency Management was engaged at its Emergency Operation Center. The gates were open to allow for easier evacuation from Main Street if the water started rising — typically a sign to residents of how seriously officials are taking the storm.

The county posted on social media suggesting Main Street Ellicott City patrons and residents move their vehicles off Main Street.

BGE reported that 963 of its 1,319,546 total customers served suffered outages Wednesday.

Baltimore Sun reporter Phil Davis contributed to this article.