STERLING VA: (ROCKTOWN NOW) – A flood watch has been issued for portions of central, northwest, and western Virginia, effective from this evening through Tuesday evening. The affected areas include Albemarle, Central Virginia Blue Ridge, Greene, Nelson, Madison, Northern Virginia Blue Ridge, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Warren, Augusta, and Rockingham. The National Weather Service advises residents in these regions should be prepared for possible flooding caused by excessive rainfall.

The National Weather Service warns that excessive runoff may result in flooding of creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Low-water crossings may also be flooded. Showers will begin spreading into the area today, followed by a prolonged period of moderate to heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms tonight into Tuesday. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are likely, with locally higher amounts possible along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This significant rainfall may lead to scattered instances of flooding.