A fast moving line of strong storms barreled through the Baltimore area Saturday evening, whipping up radar indicated damaging winds and dropping trees in some neighborhoods. Severe thunderstorm watches and warnings spread over much of the region as a cold front pushed east, and meteorologists said most of the squall line should wind down later tonight. Forecasters expect Sunday to be mostly dry before temperatures rise and humidity returns later in the week.
Warnings and wind
The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings across northeast Maryland, including Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Carroll and Howard counties and Baltimore City, warning of radar indicated wind gusts up to 60 to 70 mph that could bring down trees and power lines, according to the National Weather Service. The line was moving east at roughly 30 to 40 mph, and local officials urged anyone outside to get to shelter right away. Spotters and radar reports highlighted the potential for blocked roadways and localized outages.
What crews and residents saw
On the ground, local coverage and viewer posts showed snapped branches and several fallen trees that briefly blocked streets, WBAL-TV reported wind damage in multiple counties and said crews were responding to a number of calls. The station quoted meteorologists who said most of the storm activity should be gone by about 8 to 9 p.m., although a secondary front could still trigger isolated showers later in the night. Anyone who comes across downed power lines or large debris is advised to call 911 and report outages to their utility instead of trying to handle cleanup themselves…