Maryland, 1998

Hail and Damaging Winds in Maryland, April 1, 1998

April 1, 1998 · NWS LWX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Unstable air ahead of a strong cold front aided the formation of thunderstorm bands, some which became severe, during the evening of the 1st. Well-developed storms produced near-severe wind gusts and hail.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
$59,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

Unstable air ahead of a strong cold front aided the formation of thunderstorm bands, some which became severe, during the evening of the 1st. Well-developed storms produced near-severe wind gusts and hail. Wind damage occurred in the Winfield/Taylorsville section of Carroll Co along the gust front. Residents noted minor damage, including a trampoline that was picked up and deposited 600 feet downwind; a baby goat house, weighing 200 pounds, picked up and deposited 200 feet downstream; a few downed trees, and minor damage to cyclone fences.A large tree was blown onto a home in Boulevard Heights (Prince George's Co - near Capitol Heights), causing substantial structural damage. Lightning strikes were prevalent with the thunderstorms. Three homes were struck in Harford Co, as was one transformer. Several lightning strikes in Anne Arundel Co injured one person and set a home on fire. Lastly, one half to three-quarter inch diameter hail fell in western Montgomery Co.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:34 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When
April 1, 7:35 PM EST
Where
Carroll County, Winfield
Property damage
$4,000
Coordinates
39.450, -77.050

Hail, Montgomery

When
April 1, 7:58 PM EST
Where
Montgomery County, Damascus
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.280, -77.200

Lightning, Harford

When
April 1, 8:35 PM EST
Where
Harford County, Countywide
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
39.536, -76.299 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Prince George'S

When
April 1, 8:59 PM EST
Where
Prince George'S County, Capitol Hgts
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
38.870, -76.920

Lightning, Anne Arundel

When
April 1, 9:15 PM EST
Where
Anne Arundel County, Crofton
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
38.994, -76.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maryland in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, April 1998

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: 5643718, 5643719, 5643720, 5643721, 5643722.