Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Maryland, October 5, 1995

A tornado touched down just east of Crownsville, and skipped northeast along a 3.8 mile track, exiting Arnold along the Magothy River. The first segment began in the Sherwood Forest subdivision, where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, and power lines were knocked down, in a 50-yard wide swath. The tornado lifted temporarily near the Severn River, then touched down again east of the Severn, causing additional tree damage in the Rugby Hall subdivision. Numerous limbs were noted along State Routes 2 and 648 as the tornado continued northeast. More tree tops were snapped at the Severna Park Golf Center. As the twister raced through the campus of Anne Arundel Community College, three building roofs sustained damage, one vehicle was flipped, and two others had windows blown out. Siding was stripped from a couple of homes in the College Hills subdivision just before the twister lifted a second time. The tornado touched down a third and final time in the Belvedere Heights subdivision, knocking down several trees, and one telephone wire, and causing minor damage to four homes, including one whose metal porch supports were bent. The twister tightened from 100 yards to 50 yards as it moved into the Dreams Point subdivision, knocking down tens of hardwood trees. After the twister crossed Forked Creek, it caused minor damage to sailboats at two private docks. The storm continued through the Ulmstead Acres Community, knocking down more trees, twisting a tennis court fence, and causing minor damage to six more homes, primarily shingle, siding, gutter, and window shutters. A cupola was removed from a barn, and a residence's garage door was bowed out. The tornado exited into the Magothy River, where it dissipated.

A strong mesocyclone, generated from the remnants of Hurricane Opal, developed south of the Potomac River and raced northeast during the mid-evening. When it moved into Maryland, it spawned three tornadoes in Charles, Prince Georges, and Anne Arundel County. The first tornado tracked along State Route 425 between the towns of Ironside and Grayton. Along its path, several trees were uprooted or snapped; two sheds were destroyed and two more sustained roof damage. Windows were blown out of a barn and several vehicles.

The strongest tornado, containing estimated winds of 150 mph, caused substantial damage, and several injuries, at a Temple Hills neighborhood. Three persons sustained minor injuries requiring a short hospital stay; 17 others reported cuts and abrasions. In all, 100 homes suffered damage. Fifteen of the homes were damaged severely enough to be condemned; four homes lost their entire roofs. Numerous trees, several wide-girthed hardwoods, were uprooted, and 9,000 Potomac Electric Power customers were without power.

The third tornado associated with the parent mesocyclone touched down in residential Odenton (at F0), strengthened (to F1) as it continued through Severn, the weakened rapidly before lifting in south Glen Burnie. The tornado destroyed an aluminum carport, ripped shingles and siding from a nearby residence, and snapped silver maple trees in Odenton. The storm continued ,across state route 32, and strengthened as it entered Severn. At least 200 soft- and hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted along the west edge of the Severn Run Natural Forest. Pine trees fell onto homes northwest of the forest, but direct tornado damage to homes was not noted until the storm reached a relatively new development along Quarterfield Farms Road. Eleven homes suffered damage at the development, ranging from ripped siding and unhinged shingles to a bowed-in garage door frame. Several pine and oak trees were snapped or uprooted here as well. The tornado weakened while causing damage to a farm house, shed, and carport immediately north of the development, then caused minor tree and limb damage near state route 174 before dissipating. Baltimore Gas and Electric reported 2,600 customers without power in Anne Arundel County; the entire servicing district had 10,000 customers without power.

A bow-echo, racing well east ahead of the Charles-Prince Georges-west Anne Arundel County mesocyclone, produced a short-lived gustnado/waterspout along the Magothy River in Arnold. Minor tree and structural damage was noted at two residences, while an automobile was turned around. The tornado lifted as a waterspout over the Magothy River.

A small tornado struck along the St Mary's Countyshoreline, snapping trees, shattering a residence's porch windows, and knocking down power lines.

Small trees were deposited along a local street near Pylesville. Other trees and power lines were reported down in Aberdeen. At the Bush River Yacht Club (southeast Harford County), two dinghies were damaged when a large oak tree fell on them. The tree had been weakened by the combination of strong gradient winds, thunderstorm winds, and heavy rains earlier on the 5th.