Voters in Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore are heading to the polls today under a severe thunderstorm watch that lasts until the moment polls close.
What’s Happening: The National Weather Service issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch 381, in effect until 8 p.m. today. In Southern Maryland, the watch covers Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. On the Eastern Shore, it covers Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.
What’s Important: The watch expires at exactly 8 p.m., the same time polls close statewide. Storms could bring damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning, and hail. A separate flood watch covering Somerset, Wicomico, and inland Worcester counties runs until 4:15 p.m., with rainfall rates that could top 2 inches per hour and localized totals of 3 to 5 inches in some spots.
How This Affects Real People: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Maryland’s primary, which includes competitive races for governor and U.S. House seats. Voters in affected counties should expect wet roads and possible flooding in low-lying and urban areas during the afternoon and evening.
What We Know: A cold front moving through the region is driving the storms. The flood watch notes that despite recent dry conditions, heavy rainfall rates could still cause flooding in areas with poor drainage.
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