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Bands of heavy rain crossed the Charlotte metro region overnight, and forecasters say developing conditions could keep a flood threat in the area for much of the day.
And as the National Weather Service warned that a combination of wet ground and increasing wind could cause trees to fall, a large tree tumbled overnight on North Tryon Street, blocking the road.
The tree tumbled about 3 a.m. on North Tryon at 36th Street, blocking the road in both directions. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Capt. Mike Campagna said Duke Energy and Charlotte's tree removal crews hopes to have the road reopened in several hours, but the morning commute might be affected.
A flash flood watch is in effect until Thursday morning for the entire Charlotte metro region. Forecasters say 5 to 6 inches of rain could fall by the time a complex series of system -- caused in large part by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida -- has ended sometime Thursday.
As of 4:45 a.m., no flooding has been reported in the immediate Charlotte area. Flash flood warnings were in effect for the Greenville-Spartanburg area, and the heavy rain that produced those warnings was expected to cross the Charlotte metro region between 4:30 and 7:30 a.m.
Charlotte city officials are watching the area's flood gauges, but the rate of rainfall so far has been low enough to prevent flash flooding.
Forecasters say the low pressure system crossing the area will reform today along the Carolinas coast, and that could cause another period of heavy rain in the Piedmont this afternoon and evening.
In addition to the flash flood watch, the National Weather Service also has issued a wind advisory for the area, saying gusts of up to 40 mph are possible today. The winds, combined with wet ground, could be bad news for some of the area's trees.
"It will likely be enough to send quite a few trees to the ground," said Justin Lane, of the National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C.
As of 5 a.m., about 2 1/4 inches of rain has fallen at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport since late Tuesday morning. Similar rainfall totals have been reported across the area, although there have been some reports of up to 4 inches in the foothills.
Tropical Storm Ida came ashore Tuesday morning on the Gulf coast of Alabama, then dissipated. When that happened, the system's rain shield spread quickly across the Southeast. The amount of precipitation was increased because the remnants of Ida joined with a cold front moving across the area.
Now adding to the mix is a low pressure system expected to form today off the Carolinas coast. That will dump additional heavy rain on the Carolinas and is responsible for the windy conditions across the region.
Motorists in the Charlotte area had a difficult time dealing with the rain Tuesday.
Kristin Young, a spokeswoman for Medic, Mecklenburg County's emergency medical service, said crews responded to 18 wrecks between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday. She said 13 people were injured, including three with serious injuries.
"As water builds on the roads, due to the extended periods of rain the area has experienced, we continue to encourage drivers to slow down and increase stopping distance," Young said.
She also reminded motorists to give crews that respond to wrecks room to do their job.
Transportation officials in North Carolina prepared for the storm Monday, as crews worked to clear leaves and other debris from storm sewers. Crews in Charlotte also pulled tree limbs and other debris from creeks and streams. But authorities worry that the large piles of leaves on the sides of streets could block sewers and cause flooding if the heavy rain develops.
