Heavy Rain

Torrential rainfall brought on by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee flooded dozens of Baltimore-area roads, and sent the water rising out of rivers and creeks — and rescue crews have responded to more than a dozen calls of stranded drivers since midnight Thursday. And forecasters warn that more rain is on the way. Forecasters said heavy runoff will continue to spark concern into the weekend, as rivers rise behind the region's dams and threaten downstream communities. Carroll County schools delayed opening by two hours Thursday, and Charles County schools closed entirely.

Last week's drought conditions seemed a distant memory Monday as Central Maryland shook off more heavy rains and braced for a fourth day of showers and storms on Tuesday. The forecast called for a 60 percent chance of rain overnight, and 40 percent on Tuesday as a slow-moving low crawled up the coast toward New England. At few tenths of an inch were likely, with a potential for heavier rain in thunderstorms. In all, nearly 2.5 inches of rain had fallen at The Baltimore Sun's weather station in downtown Baltimore between Saturday and Monday afternoon.

Hans Schmidt's fields were so muddy his van nearly bogged down as he drove across the flat Eastern Shore landscape to where he'd knocked off planting wheat the other night - just ahead of another downpour. It's been a wet year for farmers, and that could spell trouble for the Chesapeake Bay. Schmidt and other Maryland farmers have been in a race with the weather lately - trying to get the last of their fall crops harvested and their fields replanted in pollution-absorbing "cover crops" before winter sets in. "Spring was so wet, it was just like this domino effect," Schmidt said last week as he eyed a brown field of ripe soybeans too soaked to harvest.

More than 30 Howard County roads were closed at various points yesterday because of flooding induced by heavy rain overnight or other storm-related issues, but most reopened after the rain stopped and the sun emerged, county officials said In addition, a downed power line dangling over a portion of westbound U.S. 40 near the Normandy shopping center in Ellicott City forced the closure of one lane and a traffic backup there. The cause of the downed line was unclear. From Furnace Avenue and Race Road in Elkridge, on the eastern edge of Howard, to South Entrance Road in Columbia and Hipsley Mill Road on the Montgomery County border in the far western county, the rains fueled high water that blocked motorists.

Poor field conditions caused by rain throughout the Baltimore area Friday night and yesterday caused the postponement of several high school sporting events yesterday including some state semifinals and finals.The state field hockey finals have been moved to tomorrow and Tuesday afternoon at Goucher College on two fields.Pocomoke and Easton will meet 3 p.m. tomorrow in the Class 1A final and Severna Park and Bethesda Chevy Chase will meet at the same time in the Class 4A final.Fallston will take on J.M. Bennett at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Class 2A final and Magruder and Calvert meet at the same time in the Class 3A final.

Central Maryland is in for a gusher of rain throughout the day Thursday as a potent storm system moves out of the Gulf states with a heavy load of Gulf and Atlantic moisture. On top of rainfall that could total 3 inches before the storm ends Friday morning, forecasters said persistent winds from the east and southeast will pile up high tides on the bay Thursday evening, 2 to 3 feet above normal. The National Weather Service Wednesday posted flood watches for interior counties in anticipation of the heavy rains, and coastal flood advisories for the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. "The heaviest rain is going to occur toward the afternoon and into the evening," said Steve Zubrick, science and operations officer at the National Weather Service's regional forecast office in Sterling, Va. "That's going to fall on ground already saturated from last weekend's rainstorm.

It has been quite a stretch of ideal September weather in the Baltimore area, but it is expected to come to a wet end Monday night. Through Sunday, the region has seen eight consecutive days with highs between 75 degrees and 83 degrees and no rain, as measured at BWI Marshall Airport. Monday, for most of the day at least, should be no different -- a high of 76 degrees with sun and some clouds, gradually increasing throughout the day. Monday night, showers are expected to begin and to roll into a drenching Tuesday.

Heavy rains that lashed central Maryland on Sunday forced a portion of East Monument Street to be evacuated after a large sinkhole in the road reopened and expanded, according to a city public works spokesman. Tons of gravel and recycled concrete that city crews had used to backfill the hole began washing away as an estimated 1 to 3 inches of rain fell, forcing emergency crews to once again evacuate the north side of the 2300 block of East Monument Street, said Kurt Kocher, the spokesman.