Tornadoes and Hail in Maryland, May 13, 2000

Temperatures in the mid 80s to lower 90s in combination with humid conditions resulted in several rounds of thunderstorms across Maryland west of the Chesapeake Bay from midday through late evening on the 13th. Several storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH, large hail, frequent lightning, and very heavy downpours. Two tornadoes were also reported. In Washington County, dime sized hail fell at Camp Manidokan along Harpers Ferry Road north of Sandy Hook. Winds estimated at 70 MPH were responsible for downing trees at the camp. Tree damage was also reported near Smithsburg and Gapland. Trees and power lines were downed in Hagerstown and one fallen tree damaged a car. A backed up storm drain also caused the underpass of Memorial Boulevard to flood, stranding one motorist. In Frederick County, trees were downed in Burkettesville and Emmitsburg. A tree was downed onto a home and truck in Middletown where a wind gust of 56 MPH was recorded and pea sized hail fell. A wind gust of 43 MPH was recorded in Knoxville. In Carroll County, a 40 year old woman was struck by lightning while standing in her front yard in Mt. Airy around 3:15 PM EDT. She suffered internal injuries and burns to her hands and feet. Dime sized hail fell in Millers where a wind gust of 62 MPH was recorded. Winds in excess of 60 MPH damaged or destroyed 3 barns and a grain bin and pushed a tree onto a home in Lineboro. A wind gust of 64 MPH was recorded where walnut sized hail fell in the northeast portion of the county. Trees, power lines, and homes were damaged by high wind in Manchester where nickel sized hail fell. Hen egg sized hail fell in Eldersburg. Spiral patterns nearly 80 feet in diameter were reported in a wheat field near Sykesville after the storms. In Baltimore County, quarter sized hail fell in the city of Baltimore and pea sized hail fell in Riesertown. Trees were downed onto a home and onto roads in Perry Hall. A tree fell through the roof of a building on Old Harford Road. Fences were blown down in Middle River. Quarter sized hail fell in Cockeysville. An F1 tornado crossed 5 miles of southeast Baltimore County between 8:00 PM and 8:10 PM EDT. The tornado was 75 yards wide and began just off Kenwood Avenue near the Interstate 95 and 695 interchange east of the city of Baltimore. It moved east uprooting and snapping trees and branches and causing damage to the trim and exterior of over a dozen homes. A large boat and trailer was rotated around. The tornado crossed Interstate 695 and damaged the roof of four townhouses off Fontana Lane. It crossed Rossville Boulevard and Philadelphia Road and damaged several buildings in an industrial park along Yellow Brick Road. The tornado finally dissipated near Pulaski Highway. Nearly 55,000 customers in the area lost power. In Harford County, dime to golfball sized hail fell in Bel Air. Pea sized hail fell from Carrotsville to Forest Hill. Several trees and power lines were downed. The most extensive area of tree damage was in Edgewood, Joppatowne, Pleasant Hill, and Bel Air. A tree and car in Edgewood were damaged by fallen trees. Automobiles were also damaged by felled trees in Aberdeen and Norrisville. Near Perryman in the southeast portion of the county, trees were downed onto a home and car along the Bush River. A funnel cloud was spotted in Abbington. At the peak of the storm, 30,000 county residents lost power. Three homes in Bel Air, two homes in Darlington, and one home in Jarrettsville were struck by lightning. In Howard County, a 57 MPH wind gust was recorded in Fulton along with pea sized hail. Trees were downed along Route 32 near Columbia and near Clarksville. In Anne Arundel County, several trees were downed onto roads in the southern portion of the county. Nearly 7000 county customers lost power as a direct result of the storm. In Montgomery County, trees were downed in Damascus, Boyds, and Olney. In Charles County, pea to marble sized hail fell in St. Charles. In Prince George's County, downed trees and power lines were reported in Clinton, Suitland, Accokeek, Oxon Hill, Brandywine, Upper Marlboro, Ft. Washington, and Temple Hills. Some roads were blocked by fallen trees. Dime size hail fell in Accokeek. Winds of 60 MPH were estimated in Clinton and Upper Marlboro. Winds of at least 60 MPH pushed a car on Route 301 near Clinton into a median and tipped it on its side. A wind gust of at least 90 MPH was recorded at Andrews Air Force Base. A funnel cloud was also spotted nearby. An F1 tornado touched down about 1 mile east of Brandywine at 7:45 PM EDT. The tornado traveled on the ground for 8 miles and was 150 yards wide. It moved northeast to near Naylor crossing Keys Road, Molly Berry Road, Croom Road, Nottingham Road, and into a park along the Patuxent River. The tornado felled several trees, some onto cars and homes as it moved across the county, knocking out power to 51,000 customers. The F1 tornado crossed into Calvert County 4 miles west of Chaney. It moved east, crossing Lyons Creek Road, Route 4, Chaney Road, and Chesapeake Beach Road before dissipating near Chaney around 8:10 PM EDT. The tornado downed trees onto cars and houses in the area. One motorist was injured on Route 4 when the tornado downed a tree onto a car. In addition, winds in excess of 55 MPH downed a tree and damaged the exterior of homes in Dunkirk.