Skies expected to open for another downpour

Heavy rainfall is expected to continue today in the already waterlogged metropolitan region, which likely will result in snarled commutes and high water in low areas.

“Into the first part of Thursday, it could get dicey,” Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Silver Spring, said yesterday.

“[Drivers] should anticipate delays and allow plenty of time to get to work, or even check to see if it’s necessary to come in.”

The Weather Service yesterday issued a flash-flood watch for the region through this morning, with 3 to 8 inches of rain anticipated.

“With the grounds as saturated as they are, even a half-inch in some places could cause flooding,” Mr. Feltgen said.

Officials at theWeather Service are looking into whether a tornado touched down last night in Chaptico, Md., damaging farm buildings.

“We are fairly certain it was a tornado, but nobody saw it touch down,” said Sgt. Philip Joseph, a spokesman for the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department.

The Weather Service report said the possible twister appeared at 6:10 p.m. near Chaptico.

Mr. Feltgen said the Weather Service will look at the damage soon to determine whether to classify it as a tornado.

Three barns — including one filled with hay — and a machine shed on a family farm were seriously damaged, but no homes were hit.

Sgt. Joseph said there were no injuries.

Maryland officials had closed more than 30 major roadways since Sunday night; only a few had not been reopened by yesterday afternoon.

David Buck, a spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration, said an early morning break in the torrential downpours yesterday made for a quiet rush hour.

“We had a pretty decent respite [yesterday],” Mr. Buck said. “But as far as [preparations], there isn’t much that can be done — other than close the roads, put up barricades and be patient and wait for Mother Nature to do her thing.”

Karyn LeBlanc, a spokeswoman for the District Department of Transportation, said crews would be deployed throughout the evening to keep roads cleared of debris and downed trees.

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