So, yeah, about that rain. The most recent estimates for rainfall in the D.C.metro area tonight are anywhere between one and four inches, thanks to Tropical Storm Nicole, which has created a sheath of green radar that’s currently draped over the eastern seaboard like a silky negligee. The good news is that inland folks like us aren’t supposed to get the same kind of high winds which caused so much damage when storms bullied their way through the region in August. It won’t be pleasant, though, if you’re planning on flying or driving anywhere during the storm, which is scheduled to get started around now, hit peak power overnight and continue well into tomorrow.

The District government is preparing for potential power outages and other such issues. Here’s some important phone numbers to remember — to report downed wires, call Pepco at 202-872-3432; if you’re experiencing a power outage, you can call Pepco at 1-877-PEPCO-62; call 311 if there’s damage to trees which block roadways or sidewalks; and finally, if you see something blocking drains or catch basins, you can call D.C. Water at 202-612-3400.