Strong Wind in Maryland, March 6, 1997

The combination of deep low pressure over the Canadian Maritime region with arctic high pressure over the midwestern U.S. produced northwesterly wind gusts to 50 mph or greater on land and as high as 54 mph on the Chesapeake Bay. Scattered property damage and power outages were reported, especially across northern Maryland.In downtown Baltimore City (MDZ011), a condemned building (under renovation) along Martin Luther King Blvd. sustained a partial wall failure. The wall failure resulted when the roof caved in. The cave in occurred when gusty winds blew through open windows on the top floor. Nearby downtown roads were closed for several hours as clean-up crews tore down the damaged portion of the building. Several trees/large limbs and wires were downed as well. In Carroll Co (MDZ005), two-thirds of a tin roof was blown off an apartment building in Westminster, forcing residents out until repairs were made; a few trees/large limbs and wires were also down in the county.Other scattered damage included downed wires and large limbs in Howard Co (MDZ010), a roof blown off the kitchen of a home in Woodlawn (MDZ006), and a smashed chimney on a home in Annapolis (MDZ014).Baltimore Gas and Electric reported 16,000 customers were without power during the morning; Potomac Electric Power Co. reported 8000 customers were without power in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties (MDZ009-013).Some damage was noted to boats at a marina in Annapolis.