ARLINGTON, Va. - Another day of unrelenting rain, wind and chill greeted the Washington region Thursday, as a nor'easter churns in the Atlantic.

Winds are gusting to nearly 40 mph across the region, with gusts in the upper 50s and lower 60s along the Atlantic Coast.

The nor'easter was produced by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida and another trough of low pressure, which combined over the Atlantic.

The National Weather Service (web | news) issued a flood warning for Calvert and St. Mary's counties until 1:45 p.m., and a wind advisory for Calvert and St. Mary's until 6 a.m. Friday. Leonardtown, in St. Mary's County, has received nearly 5 inches of rain in the past two days. Areas closer in are approaching an inch of rainfall just today.

"Cold, wet and miserable" was Jillian Anderson's assessment.

In Northwest, the rain-soaked ground and gusting winds weakened a massive tree on Springland Lane. It toppled into the neighbor's roof across the street, startling both families as they slept.

"I was asleep at 3:30 in the morning and it sounded like a whomp!" said Diane Harris

"I was pretty much asleep," added Ajay Ghei. "I saw the lights flicker even through they were off. I knew it hit the power lines." 

On the East Potomac Park side of the Washington Channel, water covered the sidewalks and threatened to swallow picnic tables and benches.

The rainy weather turned some small creeks into aggressive streams, like Little Difficult Run in Vienna. It's just one of many spots homeowners are keeping an eye on.

The over-saturated earth has created swamp-like conditions in Annandale, where residents are worried the mounds of autumn leaves could stop up storm drains.

In Alexandria (web | news) , it's the wind pushing the Potomac out of its banks. Low-lying neighborhoods are on watch that the water doesn't creep any closer to homes and businesses.

"The kids are looking out the window saying, 'Are we going to have a hurricane?' said one resident.

The storm is bringing strong winds and flooding to parts of the Chesapeake Bay, where heavy rain caused flooding along the western shore and in low-lying areas.

Wind restrictions are now in effect for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, prohibiting house trailers and empty box trailers from crossing.

People in Annapolis are bracing for the threat of flooding as the rain continues to fall there.

Business owners like James Lamy picked up sandbags to keep rising waters out.

"We've got electrical pumps in the store," Lamy said. "We'll pump the water. There's really not a whole lot we can do except barricade."

Around the city dock, business and boat owners prepared.

"If it happens, that would give us about 8 inches of water over the boardwalk," said Deputy Harbor Master J.P. Walt. "The parking lot will be a lake, that's a given."

They expect the worst of the flooding to be at 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, when high tide rolls in.

Forecasters expect the rain to end Friday afternoon, with your first glimpse of sun likely on Saturday.

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