A strong cold front will create the potential for several weather threats in Carroll County this afternoon into tonight to include flash flooding and high wind gusts.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flash flood watch from 3 p.m. today through late tonight for portions of Maryland including Carroll and Howard Counties.

A line of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms will push across the Baltimore and Washington metro areas late this afternoon and evening, according to the NWS. The NWS forecasts a total rainfall of one to three inches, but most of this will fall in a very short period of time, which could cause flash flooding.

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.

Strong winds will also increase today and will gust up to 40 miles per hour by late afternoon, according to The Weather Channel. 

The weather alert says, "With storms that come through from west to east during this afternoon and evening, damaging wind gusts over 60 miles per hour and downed trees are possible."