Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia Already Logged 1 to 4 Inches of Drought-Busting Rain Since Wednesday With Another Inch Possible Through Memorial Day Monday as Weekend Stays Unsettled
WASHINGTON D.C., MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA — The Memorial Day holiday weekend across the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region is off to a wet start, but the rain is delivering critical drought relief to a region that desperately needed it. Since Wednesday, most locations have already received 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, western mountain communities have logged over 3 inches, and the wet pattern is not finished yet with an additional inch or more still possible through Monday night.
How Much Rain Has Already Fallen Since Wednesday
Observed rainfall totals from NWS rain gauge data through Saturday show a clear pattern of heavier totals to the west and lighter amounts to the east:
| Area | Rainfall Since Wednesday |
|---|---|
| Western mountains and Frederick corridor | 3.00 to 4.54 inches |
| Northern Virginia and western suburbs | 2.29 to 3.71 inches |
| Washington D.C. metro core | 1.16 to 1.69 inches |
| Baltimore and surrounding areas | 1.22 to 2.12 inches |
| Southeast of the Beltway | 0.75 to 1.32 inches |
| Eastern Shore | 0.62 to 0.94 inches |
How Much More Rain Is Coming Through Monday
An additional 1 to 1.25 inches or more is forecast across the D.C. metro and northern Maryland through Monday night, with somewhat lighter totals of 0.5 to 1 inch across the broader surrounding region:
| Area | Additional Rain Through Monday |
|---|---|
| Washington D.C. and northern suburbs | 1.00 to 1.25 inches or more |
| Northern Maryland and Virginia | 1.00 to 1.25 inches |
| Southern zones | 0.5 to 1.0 inch |
| Eastern Shore | 0.80 to 1.11 inches |
A Full Day by Day Holiday Weekend Breakdown
| Day | Conditions | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday and Saturday night | Occasional showers, some heavy overnight | 0.5 to 0.75 inches |
| Sunday and Sunday night | Showers early, then a pause, scattered overnight | 0.1 to 0.25 inches |
| Monday Memorial Day | Widely scattered showers, possible thunder, best chance afternoon | Variable amounts |
The Best Windows for Outdoor Plans
Despite the wet pattern, Sunday afternoon offers the best extended dry window of the entire holiday weekend, with a prolonged pause in shower activity expected during the afternoon hours. Monday also features dry intervals between scattered showers, particularly during the morning hours before the afternoon storm chances increase.
Great News for the Drought Despite the Timing
While the persistent rain is impacting holiday weekend outdoor plans, every inch that falls across this region represents meaningful progress against a severe drought that has gripped the area for an extended period. The combination of what has already fallen since Wednesday and what arrives through Monday will bring significant drought relief to a region that can use every drop.
Stay with CabarrusWeekly.com for daily holiday weekend weather updates across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia through Memorial Day Monday.
