Scattered thunderstorms moved across central Maryland during the afternoon and early evening hours of the 7th. These storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH, frequent lightning, and hail.
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.
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.
The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.
Scattered thunderstorms moved across central Maryland during the afternoon and early evening hours of the 7th. These storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH, frequent lightning, and hail. In Frederick County, an apartment complex in Frederick was hit by lightning. The resulting fire left 4 families homeless and resulted in $750,000 in damage to the attic. In Howard County, lightning fires damaged over $100,000 worth of property in Columbia. Power was knocked out at the Howard County Fair for 12 hours which deactivated well water pumps and made taking care of animals difficult. High winds downed utility poles and wires in Ellicott City. In Montgomery County, dime sized hail fell in Damascus. High winds downed over 400 trees and power lines across the county. In Prince George's County, several trees and power lines were downed in Capitol Heights, Seat Pleasant, Suitland, and Upper Marlboro. Quarter sized hail was reported in Forestville and small hail was reported in Morningside and Suitland. A utility repairman restoring power in Upper Marlboro was critically injured after being shocked by a live electrical wire around 8:45 AM EDT on the 8th. Over 31,000 customers across central Maryland lost power as a direct result of the storms.
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:57 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning started a fire in the attic of an apartment complex.
Over 400 trees and power lines were downed.
Utility poles and wires were downed.
Dime sized hail fell.
Quarter sized hail fell.
Trees and power lines were downed.
A lightning fire damaged $100,000 worth of property.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, August 2000
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: 5173451, 5173737, 5173452, 5173453, 5173740, 5173738, 5173739.