Maryland, 1999

Hail and Damaging Wind in Maryland, May 24, 1999

May 24, 1999 · NWS PHI · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A severe thunderstorm produced large hail, damaging winds and frequent lightning across the northern half of Cecil County during the mid afternoon of the 24th. This was the second severe thunderstorm to affect the county this day.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 PHI wrote it up.

A severe thunderstorm produced large hail, damaging winds and frequent lightning across the northern half of Cecil County during the mid afternoon of the 24th. This was the second severe thunderstorm to affect the county this day. Hardest hit were Elkton and North East. In Elkton, a large tree demolished a mobile home. Other large trees were also snapped in the township. Large trees were knocked down in the Perryville town park and in Fair Hill. Fallen wires near a row of three homes off of Maryland State Route 213 in Elkton caused shorts and ignited a fire in one of the three homes. Damage was estimated at $25,000. Large hail also fell. Half dollar to golf ball size hail fell in Perryville. Penny size hail fell in North East. No injuries were reported. Connectiv Energy reported 40,000 homes and businesses lost power in Delaware and Maryland. All but 150 customers had power restored in Cecil County by 5 p.m. EDT.

The radar

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

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Event by event

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

Hail, Cecil

When
May 24, 1:55 PM EST
Where
Cecil County, Perryville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
39.570, -76.070

Thunderstorm Wind, Cecil

When
May 24, 1:55 PM EST to 2:10 PM EST
Where
Cecil County, Perryville to Fair Hill
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.570, -76.070

Lightning, Cecil

When
May 24, 2:00 PM EST
Where
Cecil County, Elkton
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.562, -75.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, May 1999

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: 5699608, 5699609, 5699610.