Heavy rains, gusty winds and poor visibility led Maryland transportation officials Friday to back off the regular switch to two-way traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, a move that was expected to cause extended delays during the evening rush hour.

The Washington region was whipped by high winds and heavy rains Friday, inclement weather that was expected to linger into Saturday evening. As of 5:30 p.m. Friday, Reagan National Airport had recorded 1.31 inches of rain for the day, with winds averaging nearly 18 mph.

The weather slowed traffic on virtually every major highway regionwide, but especially on southbound Interstate 95 between Springfield and Fredericksburg.

The brunt of the storm was felt far south and east of the District. In Richmond, for example, flood advisories were issued for rain totaling 3 to 6 inches. Flood watches were in place for far southeastern Maryland and Virginia.

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The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood statement, cautioning there could be minor flooding during high tides along the Potomac River, including Alexandria and the Washington Channel in D.C.

Not all is lost for the weekend, however. The forecast for Sunday calls for decreasing clouds and a high in the low 70s.

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com