In a rare and intense weather event, multiple tornadoes swept across Maryland on Wednesday, causing significant damage and trapping residents in their homes. The powerful storms uprooted trees, damaged homes, and resulted in several injuries, marking one of the most significant tornado outbreaks in the region in recent years.
Residents of Gaithersburg experienced severe weather conditions as high winds, thunderstorms, and heavy rain battered the area. Five individuals were trapped in a home on Dogwood Drive and subsequently hospitalized, with one person suffering traumatic but non-life-threatening injuries.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that a supercell storm developed in Loudoun County and possibly spawned its first tornado north of Leesburg around 6:45 p.m. This system went on to produce multiple tornadoes that impacted areas including Darnestown, Poolesville, Gaithersburg, Olney, Columbia, and Baltimore.
The NWS will need until Thursday afternoon to fully assess the extent of the damage, confirm the number of tornadoes, and assign ratings to each twister. Initial video footage from Montgomery County depicted a large, cone-shaped funnel near Darnestown and Poolesville, indicative of tornadoes rated at least an EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
Such strong tornadoes are typically more common in the Plains and South than in the Mid-Atlantic. The last EF2 tornado to hit Maryland in June occurred in 1996.
Long-time Gaithersburg resident Jacqueline Harding described the experience: “I’ve lived here 75 years and we’ve never had nothing like this come through Gaithersburg. Nothing that would tear trees down and stuff. Not this bad,” she said, recounting how she sought shelter in a nearby house as the tornado approached.
The Olde Towne neighborhood in Gaithersburg was particularly hard-hit. Alongside the heavily damaged house on Dogwood Drive, two other homes were struck by fallen trees, though fortunately, those residents were unharmed.
Photos from the area show streets littered with tree branches and, in some cases, massive tree trunks. Mariela Cabanillas, a resident of Gaithersburg, shared her harrowing experience: “It was really quick, I think in those moments you don’t really understand what’s happening until it’s over. The wind was super loud and the rain was really hard.”
The storm also caused temporary power outages as it downed power lines. Emergency crews worked through the night to assess the damage and clear debris from the roads.
While Thursday might bring more storms to the D.C. area, the risk of tornadoes is significantly lower.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has placed the Washington region in a Level 1 risk area for severe storms, the lowest of five levels. Though downpours, lightning, and strong straight-line wind gusts are possible, the likelihood of tornadoes is minimal.
Residents are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions as the cleanup and recovery efforts continue in the wake of this unprecedented weather event.