Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Maryland, May 25, 2001

Thunderstorms that produced winds in excess of 55 MPH, a tornado, hail, and heavy downpours moved across Southern Maryland during the afternoon of the 25th. In Charles County, a tornado touched down on Panda Court in the Hampshire Lake subdivision about 2.5 miles west of downtown Waldorf. The tornado tracked northeast across the subdivisions of McDaniel Country Estates, Ashford Oaks, Streamview, and across Route 228 (Berry Road) before crossing into Prince George's County near Acton Lane. The tornado was 100 yards wide and was ranked an F1. Over 100 homes received minor damage to siding and roofs, with the most concentrated area of damage in the Streamview neighborhood. The worst damage included trees putting significant holes into homes, damaged cars, broken windows, a damaged deck, and a downed chimney. In addition, a shed, tractor, and air conditioning unit were blown over. The survey team estimated over 100 trees and several power lines were downed in the path of the storm. As the tornado crossed Route 228 it picked up a truck, spun it around and flipped it over onto the side of the road. Just north of Route 228, the tornado destroyed three barns at a sod farm. When the twister reached Acton Lane, it downed several trees and power lines. About an hour before the tornado touched down near Waldorf, another thunderstorm produced a funnel cloud that apparently never reached the ground just northeast of Indian Head. Pea sized hail was reported in Bryans Road. In Prince George's County, the Green Acre Farms area about 4 miles southwest of Brandywine was hit by the same tornado that damaged several homes just west of Waldorf. The tornado crossed Mattawoman Creek at the county line near Acton Lane, then pushed northeast across the Green Acre Farms subdivision and Gardner Road. Several trees were downed in the path of the twister. Two homes in Green Acre Farms were damaged. One of the homes on Gardner Road suffered water damage after a tree pushed in a basement door which allowed water runoff to flood the basement. Another homeowner on Mattawoman Lane had a vehicle significantly damaged by a downed tree. A nearby shed was picked up off its foundation and thrown 40 feet. The path of the tornado was clearly visible as a tree top "V" pattern in the woodlands behind the home. A nearby barn was also damaged. Six occupants in 5 cars on nearby roadways had to be rescued after downed trees and power lines made the roads impassable. The tornado dissipated in the woods just northeast of Gardner Road before reaching Robin Dale Country Club. The storm that produced the tornado continued to move northeast across the county. A funnel cloud was spotted in Brandywine, Camp Springs, and Bowie as the storm passed through. A wind gust of 63 MPH was recorded at Andrews Air Force Base. Heavy rain flooded the intersection of Branch Avenue and Brinkley Avenue and roads in Bladensburg. In Anne Arundel County, a total of 2.04 inches of rain fell in Annapolis. In St. Mary's County, 1.92 inches of rain was reported in Oraville.