Damaging Winds and High Wind in Maryland, January 11, 2000

Name: Damaging Winds and High Wind in Maryland, January 11, 2000
Start: 2000-01-11T10:15
End: 2000-01-11T11:00
Location: Maryland

January 11, 2000 · NWS LWX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved across Maryland during the morning of the 11th. As the front moved through, winds in excess of 55 MPH were reported in some locations.

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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $37,000
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.

A strong cold front moved across Maryland during the morning of the 11th. As the front moved through, winds in excess of 55 MPH were reported in some locations. In Washington County, high winds downed trees and wires in Hagerstown where a wind gust of 45 MPH was recorded. In Frederick County, trees were downed onto roads in Emmitsburg, Middletown, and New Market and over 1000 power outages were reported. In Montgomery County, wind gusts included 50 MPH at Damascus, 51 MPH at Clarksburg, and 46 MPH at Germantown. Trees and power lines were downed in Potomac, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Germantown. In Howard County, trees were downed onto Forsythe, Ten Oaks, and Nickel Roads in Columbia. A wind gust of 44 MPH was recorded in Ellicott City and Clarksville. In Harford County, several trees and power lines were downed in Bel Air, Abingdon, Norrisville, and Forest Hill. One tree toppled onto a car on Emmorton Road in Bel Air, seriously injuring a 28-year-old woman. A wind gust of 47 MPH was recorded in Hickory and a 52 MPH wind gust was recorded at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Nearly 2500 customers were without power by noon. Other recorded wind gusts included 55 MPH at Manchester and 40 MPH at Finksburg in Carroll County, 50 MPH at Laurel and 40 MPH at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George's County, 57 MPH at Rivera Beach and 47 MPH at BWI Airport in Anne Arundel County, and 45 MPH at Hollywood in St. Mary's County.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 high wind, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: January 11, 10:15 AM EST to 10:45 AM EST
Where: Montgomery County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: UTILITY COMPANY
Coordinates: 39.133, -77.200

Trees and power lines downed.

High Wind, Washington

When: January 11, 10:30 AM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 39.604, -77.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees downed in Hagerstown.

High Wind, Frederick

When: January 11, 10:30 AM EST
Where: Frederick forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 39.472, -77.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees downed, roads blocked, and winds estimated up to 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind, Howard

When: January 11, 10:45 AM EST
Where: Howard County, Columbia
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 39.233, -76.850

Trees downed onto roads.

High Wind, Harford

When: January 11, 10:45 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where: Harford forecast zone
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Trees downed onto roads and one tree downed onto car, injuring driver.

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.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maryland in 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history Warnings in Maryland, January 2000

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: 5130663, 5130661, 5130662, 5130664, 5130665.