The remnants of tropical storm Isidore will slide east along the Ohio River today. While the storms in Greater Cincinnati are helping alleviate the summer-long drought, the rainfall has made roadways hazardous.

        Cincinnati police say a crash Thursday morning on Columbia Parkway — in which 23-year-old Rayshawn Nash of Mount Washington was killed — might have been rain-related.

        Expect dangerous conditions again today as rain continues to fall on what were parched roads dotted with dried oil. Forecasters predict 2-4 inches will fall in the 24-hour period ending late this afternoon (Current radar and forecast).

        Here's the good news: Better planting conditions for fall landscaping and grass-seeding.

        “It's been like digging in concrete, just powder,” Steve Witsken, owner of Creative Landscape in Dent, said Thursday. “It's getting late on seeding lawns, but now's the best time to be planting.”

        Isidore left New Orleans in hip-high rainwater on Thursday and left 140,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi without power as the loosely organized storm worked its way inland with sustained winds up to 65 mph.

        Tornado warnings and flood watches were posted from the central Louisiana coast to the Florida panhandle.

        In Louisiana, a twister touched down in Lafourche Parish, near where Isidore made landfall.

        The storm had fallen from hurricane strength, defined as sustained winds of at least 74 mph, since hitting Mexico over the weekend.

        By this morning, the remnants of Isidore will continue on a northeastern path along the Ohio River.

        Isidore will continue to weaken today, forecasters said, but is expected to bring Greater Cincinnati's September precipitation to near or slightly above average. June, July and August were each significantly below normal levels of rain, according to Accuweather.

        “Some spots could get three, four inches. But records — I don't think we'll see anything close to that,” said Accuweather meteorologist Jon McGee. “It's all related to Isidore now. With all the moisture drawing up, there's potential for heavy downpour.”

        Music to landscapers' ears.

        “We've had such big losses in the past four months, probably the worse I've seen in a long time,” Mr. Witsken said. “And I've been in this business 25 years.”

        He said the combination of an uncertain economy and dry days of 90-plus degrees made many residents let the lawn go brown and put fall plantings on hold.

        Typically, September and early October are ideal for tree planting, especially shade trees such as glory maples and select pears. The only peril is a hard freeze, which is unlikely until December or January, Mr. Witsken said.

        For local police and emergency medical personnel, heavy rain also brings perilous road conditions.

        With so little rain this summer, oil from passing cars builds up on roads, seeping between the pavement cracks. The most dangerous time can be in the first minutes of a rainfall, especially if it's a light rain.

        “If it hasn't rained for a long time, there's more residue and you'll notice some increased slippery conditions,” said Lt. Mike Sanders of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Lebanon barracks. “Drive accordingly.”

        In the Cincinnati crash — one of several across the Tristate on Thursday that likely were rain-related — Mr. Nash lost control of his car on Columbia Parkway and crossed into eastbound traffic, hitting a pickup, according Sgt. Bill Coombs.

        Mr. Nash died at University Hospital shortly after the 10 a.m. accident. The road, between Taft Road and Delta Avenue, was closed for more than two hours.

        The driver of the truck, Patricia Johnson, 54, of Anderson Township, is in stable condition at University Hospital. Her grandson, 4-year-old James Clark, was taken to Children's Hospital Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries.

        Contributing: Jane Prendergast and the Associated Press
       

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