A severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Baltimore’s southwestern suburbs and surrounding counties until 11 p.m. Today, with forecasters warning that storms moving through the region between 7 and 11 p.m. could bring damaging wind gusts, heavy rain and frequent lightning.
Where is the greatest risk tonight, and what should residents watch for?
The tornado threat remains low across the
metro itself, but meteorologists say it isn’t zero, particularly southwest of the city where atmospheric conditions could allow storms to rotate. Showers and storms are expected to arrive in waves throughout the evening, and while temperatures should stay in the 70s even between rounds of rain, any storm that develops could bring localized street flooding on top of the wind and lightning risk.
How should people prepare for possible power outages?
Baltimore Gas and Electric is asking customers to report outages online at BGE.com, through its mobile app, by texting 69243, or by calling its outage line directly. Anyone who spots a downed power line should stay away entirely and call it in, since lines can carry a live current even when they don’t appear to be sparking or moving.
What does the broader Maryland picture look like beyond tonight?
This isn’t an isolated overnight event. Separate severe thunderstorm watches issued across the wider Mid-Atlantic region Sunday stretched from Delaware and New Jersey down through parts of Virginia, with radar tracking a line of storms moving east at 50 mph through western Maryland earlier in the day. Frequent cloud to ground lightning accompanied that line, prompting officials to warn anyone near Deep Creek Lake to get off the water and seek shelter immediately given how far lightning can travel from its parent storm.
What comes after tonight’s storms clear?
Forecasters expect a mostly quiet start to Monday, followed by another round of scattered afternoon storms as temperatures climb into the mid and upper 80s away from any rain. Dry, pleasant conditions should return Tuesday and hold into Wednesday, offering a real break before the next chance of storms arrives Thursday alongside a return of muggier, more humid air by the end of the week…