Heavy Rain

Extreme rain and snow storms across the continental United States have become significantly more frequent over the past 60 years, according to a new study that fits in neatly with global warming theory and a decade of work by climate scientists. A report released yesterday by two environmental action groups found a 24 percent increase in the frequency of days with extreme precipitation between 1948 and 2006, based on a review of weather data from 3,000 observation stations in 48 states.

Rainfall maps show the heaviest rainfall Friday was concentrated right where you might expect -- around the worst of the tornadoes that struck. An area between Fallston and Loch Raven reservoir received as much as four inches of rain, as did the area near Damascus, where the borders of Frederick, Montgomery, Howard and Carroll counties meet. Those areas were the sites of two of the most damaging tornadoes, of at least nine that struck over a few hours. Heavy rain also stretched across east-central Baltimore County in the Parkville area, into Towson and Mount Washington and up toward Lancaster, Pa. One weather spotter near Loch Raven reported 4.56 inches of rain to CoCoRaHS , a network of amateur precipitation counters.

Heavy rain across Central Maryland Friday caused flooding, road closures and cancellations for the second time this month, and forecasters say there's more on tap through the weekend and into next week. By 6 p.m., the intermittent, but sometimes torrential showers had brought Baltimore's total September rainfall to 12.73 inches, breaking the 12.41-inch record for September rainfall, set in 1934, the National Weather Service confirmed. Since Aug. 1, the airport has recorded more than 23 inches of rain, more than half the city's annual average.

Storm trackers are continuing to refine their predictions for a nor'easter set to strike Maryland later this week, calling for strong rain and wind on Wednesday - most heavily along the Eastern Shore - and possibly snow on Thursday. "We're not looking at Sandy-type numbers, but it looks like this thing could pack a pretty good punch," said Steve Goldstein, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, about what residents can expect from the storm on the heels of superstorm Sandy's pounding.

LANDOVER - The much-anticipated debut of first-round draft choice Jamal Lewis was limited to one short run last night, and ended with a dislocated left elbow that will keep the Ravens' rookie running back out four to six weeks. Stopped for a 1-yard gain on the Ravens' third offensive play of last night's scrimmage against the Washington Redskins, Lewis had his left arm hyperextended by an unidentified defensive player. "I was trying to get more yards and had my arm on the ground," Lewis said after the scrimmage at FedEx Field was cut short by heavy rain and lightning with the Ravens leading 3-0. "Somebody rolled over on it. I had the ball in my right hand and was trying to stay off the ground."

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The damage and death toll continued to climb yesterday as authorities and residents tallied the widely scattered destruction left by Hurricane Dennis. While Dennis caused less damage than feared after its landfall Sunday east of Pensacola, it nonetheless was blamed for pockets of flooding and wind damage across a wide swath of the Panhandle. Gov. Jeb Bush toured storm-damaged areas yesterday, his visit delayed by lingering rough weather. Dennis was downgraded to a tropical depression but continued to dump heavy rain as it headed north.

There is still wide variation among models predicting how Tropical Storm Sandy could affect the East Coast, but regardless of how the storm tracks, Maryland could be in for some wind and rain early next week -- potentially at heavy, damaging levels. If Sandy is swept out to sea as many models predict, another area of low pressure is likely to form over the northeast, according to the likes of AccuWeather's Henry Margusity and local meteorologist Eric the Red. Of course, it's still possible that Sandy strikes somewhere along the East Coast, too, they predict.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Heavy rain early yesterday afternoon caused soggy conditions for No. 4 Maryland's game against No. 3 Virginia in men's lacrosse, but it was the Terps' own sloppiness that led to a 10-2 Cavaliers win before 2,457. Virginia (7-1, 1-0) doesn't keep track of turnover statistics, which was good news for the Terps (5-3, 1-2 ACC), who constantly gave the ball away and had a hard time finding the net with their shots. "If you get 11 of 37 shots on goal, you're not going to win many games," Terps coach Dave Cottle said.

Thunderstorms and showers will dump several inches of rain on the Baltimore area in the next few days, beginning today -- and the unseasonably warm weather the area has experienced the past two days will end later this week."

THEY ARE out there in record numbers. They are looming in the woods. They are lurking in the marshes. They are hiding in the tall grass. The mosquito hordes of Maryland are stirring. After hearing some bug reconnaissance reports, I get the feeling that this summer I am going to be dead meat, or more precisely "a blood meal" for the fast-breeding masses. Thanks to an exceptionally wet spring, this year's mosquito crop is one of the biggest in years said Cy Lesser, chief of the state's Mosquito Control Division.