A line of showers and a few thunderstorms moved across North Central and South Central Maryland between 9 and 11 PM on the 13th. These storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH and pea sized 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.
A line of showers and a few thunderstorms moved across North Central and South Central Maryland between 9 and 11 PM on the 13th. These storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH and pea sized hail. In Allegany County, a wind gust of 39 MPH was recorded in Cumberland. In Washington County, a wind gust of 64 MPH downed trees and power lines in Smithsburg. In Frederick County, several trees were downed in Frederick by winds estimated at 60 MPH. Two people in town reported seeing a funnel cloud. Trees and power lines were also downed across the county. Across Carroll County, trees were downed onto roads and a car. A chimney was also toppled. Measured wind gusts included 48 MPH in Millersville, 44 MPH in Westminster, and 42 MPH in Millers. In Baltimore County, winds gusted to 58 MPH in Parkton and 40 MPH in Owings Mills. Trees and power lines were downed across the city of Baltimore. Across Harford County, a few branches were downed. Across Howard County, thirteen trees were downed. Winds gusted to 55 MPH in Laurel and 50 MPH in Ellicott City. Across Montgomery County, trees were downed in Silver Spring, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase. A wind gust of 65 MPH was estimated in Damascus. Across Prince George's County, trees and wires were downed. A gust of 56 MPH was recorded at Andrews Air Force Base and winds gusted to 46 MPH in South Bowie. Across Anne Arundel County, trees and wires were downed. One tree fell onto a home in Severna Park. Lightning struck a home in Crownsville. Winds gusted to 43 MPH at Baltimore/Washington International Airport and 50 MPH at Rivera Beach. In Calvert County, winds estimated at 60 MPH downed trees in Chesapeake Beach and elsewhere across the county. Across Charles County, trees were downed including one which fell onto a home in Bryans Road. In St. Mary's County, a wind gust of 56 MPH was reported at Tall Timbers and a gust of 47 MPH was reported in Hollywood.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 13, 8:19 PM EST, 54 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON 819 PM EST TUE MAR 13 2001 SHRA/TSTM ENTERING CWFA ATTM. WL RAISE POPS ENTIRE AREA. EMPH ON BRIEF HVY RA...BUT ELVTD RUMBLE OF THUNDER PSBL...ESP W. ZFP/RDF TO FLLW. .LWX...SMALL CRAFT ADVSRY UPR CHES BAY AND PTMC. HTS
DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042- 050>057-WVZ048>055-140400- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON 805 PM EST TUE MAR 13 2001 ...WIND GUSTS TO 50 MILES PER HOUR LIKELY TONIGHT... A FINAL LINE OF SHOWERS WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE REGION BETWEEN 8 PM AND 1030 PM TONIGHT. THIS LINE WILL BRING A STRONG GUST OF WIND WITH BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL. WEST AND NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST AS HIGH AS 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH THE SHOWERS. THIS BAND OF GUSTY SHOWERS WILL ENTER THE EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE AND WESTERN MARYLAND AROUND 8 PM...THEN PROGRESS EAST ACROSS THE REGION. IT SHOULD REACH THE DC AND BALTIMORE METRO AREAS CLOSE TO 9 PM...AND THE BAY AROUND 10 PM. ALL OF THESE TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE. IF YOU HAVE LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS IN YOUR YARD...YOU WILL WANT TO SECURE THEM OR BRING THEM INDOORS. OTHERWISE...THEY MAY BLOW AWAY OR BECCOME DANGEROUS AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. STRONG/HTS
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:10 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and power lines were downed by a wind gust of 64 MPH.
Several trees and power lines were downed by winds estimated at 60 MPH.
Trees and wires were downed.
Two funnel cloud reports were recevied via dispatch near the airport.
Numerous trees were downed.
A wind gust of 65 MPH was estimated.
Trees were downed.
Thirteen trees were downed.
Trees and wires were damaged.
Tree and wire damage was reported.
Trees were downed.
A wind gust of 58 MPH was reported.
Trees and power lines were downed.
Winds estimated at 60 MPH downed trees.
Lightning struck a home.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, March 2001
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: 5239736, 5239737, 5239739, 5239738, 5239740, 5239741, 5239742, 5239743, 5239746, 5239817, 5239819, 5239744, 5239745, 5239820, 5239818.