Maryland, 1996

High Wind in Maryland, April 23, 1996

April 23, 1996 · NWS LWX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Gusty gradient winds associated with a vigorous cold front caused numerous power outages across north central Maryland during the evening of the 23rd. Baltimore Gas and Electric reported over 30,500 customers without power - a combination of minor damage from early (daytime) gusty winds ahead of the cold front and more substantial damage associated with the front.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
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  • Floods
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  • Cold
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  • Marine and coastal
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

Gusty gradient winds associated with a vigorous cold front caused numerous power outages across north central Maryland during the evening of the 23rd. Baltimore Gas and Electric reported over 30,500 customers without power - a combination of minor damage from early (daytime) gusty winds ahead of the cold front and more substantial damage associated with the front. The largest outages were clustered in Annapolis (MDZ014, 8100 customers); Baltimore City/Glen Burnie (MDZ011/14; 11,500 customers) and Howard Co (MDZ010; 4256 customers).

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Frederick

When
April 23, 8:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Frederick forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
39.472, -77.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Carroll

When
April 23, 9:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Carroll forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
39.563, -77.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Montgomery

When
April 23, 9:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Montgomery forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000

High Wind, Howard

When
April 23, 9:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Howard forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000

High Wind, Northern Baltimore

When
April 23, 10:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Baltimore forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
39.443, -76.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Baltimore

When
April 23, 10:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Baltimore forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
39.367, -76.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Anne Arundel

When
April 23, 10:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Anne Arundel forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
38.994, -76.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maryland in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, April 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5549410, 5549411, 5549412, 5549413, 5549414, 5549415, 5549416.