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Heavy Rain Floods Roads Around DC Area; Flash Flood Watch in Effect

Storm Team4 has declared a Weather Alert

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Another day of drenching rain led to flooding in parts of the D.C. area Thursday, with water covering some roads and even leading to high-water rescues.

While most of the heaviest rain is now moving out of the area, high or standing water remains in some areas, and much of the D.C. area was under a flash flood watch until midnight. See all severe weather alerts here.

Widely scattered showers, storms and downpours are in the forecast Thursday night, so widespread flooding is not a concern, however the ground is so saturated even a little bit of rain in one area could lead to flooding.

Downpours forced the closure of dozens of roads in Northern Virginia. Bureau Chief Julie Carey has a look at what drivers are up against and a look at a giant sinkhole in Manassas Park, which could take weeks to fix.

The flood threat remains through the weekend as humidity levels stay high and a frontal boundary remains stalled over the area with little disturbances riding up it. 

It’s tricky pinpointing when, where and how long rain will last into the weekend, so remain weather ready.

We've gotten 6-11 inches of rain over the past couple of weeks, leading to saturated ground around the region. August has seen almost four times the normal amount of rain so far.

Dramatic Photos: Heavy Rain Floods Roads in Prince George's

Chopper4 captured dramatic images of flooding in Brandywine and Fort Washington in Prince George's County. A street in Clinton, Maryland, was also inundated with water, and photos showed floodwaters covering cars’ tires on Birchview Road. Prince George’s County rescue crews helped three people escape from their vehicles. High water also was reported in Burke, Virginia. 

Thursday's downpours leave multiple Prince George County streets impassable, and strand cars in flooded roads. News4's Cory Smith talks to neighbors about the damage left behind.

A lightning strike caused a house fire in Clifton, Virginia, before 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Four people were in the home, and one of them noticed smoke coming from a basement ceiling light fixture and called 911.

The fire caused about $50,000 in damages and displaced the four people in the home.

Rescue crews also helped two people in Brandywine who were stuck in their car after getting trapped in flood waters.

A reminder if you encounter flood waters: Turn around, don't drown.

This was just the latest day of intense rain for the region.

Early Wednesday, several inches fell in a short period of time, causing a sinkhole to open up on Moseby Court in Manassas Park, Virginia. No one was hurt, but about 400 people were left with no way to leave their neighborhood. Crews quickly got to work creating a temporary road.

Record rain fall washed away a large road in Manassas Park. The hole, that is at least 100 feet across, leaves a community of about 400 people trapped. News4’s Adam Tuss reports.

Photos: Heavy Rains Open Sinkhole in Manassas Park

Stay with Storm Team4 and NBC Washington for the latest.

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