Severe storms and flooding hit Maryland Monday afternoon

Multiple severe weather alerts are active across Maryland Monday, with dangerous thunderstorms moving through the state and flash flooding already underway in the northwest.

What’s Happening: The National Weather Service has issued two Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, two Severe Thunderstorm Watches, and a Flash Flood Warning covering counties from the Eastern Shore to the western Maryland mountains. All alerts are in effect Monday afternoon and evening.

What’s Important: Both thunderstorm warnings call for wind gusts up to 60 mph. Forecasters warn that wind damage can arrive before rain or lightning — do not wait for thunder before taking shelter.

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (until 5:45 PM)

Two separate warnings cover much of the state:

• Central and southern Maryland — Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Calvert, the southeastern portion of Howard County, and the northern portion of Prince George’s County. At 4:41 PM, storms were moving east at 40 mph along a line from Catonsville to Laurel. Affected areas include Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia, Bowie, College Park, Greenbelt, and the Naval Academy.
• Upper Eastern Shore — Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties. At 4:39 PM, storms were moving east at 35 mph from a line near Oxford. Penny-size hail and 60 mph gusts are possible. Affected areas include Chestertown, Centreville, Rock Hall, and St. Michaels.

How This Affects Real People: Winds at 60 mph can knock down trees and large branches, damage roofs and vehicles, block roads, and knock out power. Loose outdoor objects can become projectiles. Torrential rain with the Eastern Shore storms may also cause localized flash flooding.

Severe Thunderstorm Watches

Two watches cover the rest of the Eastern Shore and remain in effect into Monday evening:

• Watch 556 covers Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties until 9 PM. Those counties are also under the active warning above.
• Watch 558 covers Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties until 10 PM. Affected areas include Cambridge, Salisbury, Ocean City, Princess Anne, and Crisfield.

A watch means severe storms are possible. A warning means they are happening now or are imminent.

Flash Flood Warning — Frederick and Washington counties (until 6:15 PM)

Flash flooding is underway in northwestern Frederick County and northeastern Washington County. Between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain had already fallen as of 3:12 PM, with an additional 1 to 2.5 inches possible.

Flooding is affecting small creeks, streams, highways, underpasses, and low-lying areas. Affected locations include Hagerstown, Thurmont, Smithsburg, Maugansville, Cavetown, Leitersburg, Sabillasville, and Cascade.

Do not drive through flooded roads. Floodwater depth is impossible to judge from inside a vehicle, and moving water can sweep a car off the road.

Safety guidance across all active alerts: Go inside a sturdy building immediately. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor. Stay away from windows. Do not go back outside until the warning has expired.