Tornado and Flood in Maryland, July 30, 1998

An isolated rotating thunderstorm moved out of the eastern West Virginia panhandle and into north central Maryland, producing some wind damage during the evening. Other storms developed later in the evening, including another very small supercell which dropped a brief tornado along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The storms formed at the juxtaposition of a weak surface low pressure area along a stationary front parked over north central Maryland.Some large limbs and numerous wires were blown down in southeastern Frederick Co along Penns Shop Road between New Market and Mt Airy. A swath of damage to trees and wires continued across northern Howard Co, with tree limbs blocking a portion of Interstate 70 and the intersection of state route(s) 97 and 144. More tree limbs and wires were reported down in Ellicott City. A small tornado developed along the northeast shoreline of the Bush River and moved along a main road near Perryman, snapping dozens of tree tops. One residence sustained damage when a large limb was driven through siding.Heavy rains of 1 to 2 inches, combined with poor drainage, caused sidewalk flooding in the Fells Point section of Baltimore City. At least two poorly draining intersections reported water "up to car windows" in the south portion of town.Baltimore Gas and Electric reported 15,000 customers lost power during the storm.