Lots of rain ahead; flood watch in Garrett

"A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING OCCUR."

No flood watch yet for Central Maryland. Our streams look pretty depleted after a relatively dry winter, and we have less snow on the ground than Garrett. So perhaps we'll get by without a flood risk.

The forecast for BWI-Marshall Airport calls for clouds to begin increasing Thursday after a sunny start to the day. Warm, moist air will begin to move in from the south, riding up and over the cold air at the surface. Rain should start by evening.

Forecasters are calling for a half- to three-quarters of an inch in Central Maryland Thursday night, then another half-to three-quarters of an inch on Friday before the rain ends by noon. Temperatures Friday night will drop below freezing, leaving us to tread carefully on the resulting ice. Northwest winds gusting to 35 mph will make the night even more interesting.

The weekend forecast offers sunny skies and highs in the upper 40s on Saturday, then increasing clouds on Sunday as the next rain storm moves in Sunday night into Monday.