Community Corner

Power Went Out for Hundreds, But Most of Prince George's Spared By Severe Storm

Although a band of severe storms rolled through Prince George's County leaving hundreds without power, officials said it could have been worse.

June 13, 2013, 8:13 p.m.— After two days of warnings from forecasters predicting a derecho-like storm hitting the Mid-Atlantic, the most severe weather arrived in Prince George's County just after 4 p.m. Thursday.

Read how the storm unfolded by clicking the "play" button above.

The National Weather Service warned of two possible tornadoes in the county, after one touched down outside of Colesville around 3:50 p.m. Meteorologists reported the same tornado system moved east and again created havoc along the border of West Laurel and Columbia.

Find out what's happening in Greenbeltwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Although Patch readers reported seeing a funnel-like cloud forming near Laurel, it has not officially been reported as a second tornado.

"Right now we're assessing the situation, but as far as the City of Laurel, I think we got out of it pretty good," Laurel spokesman Pete Piringer told ABC Channel 7.

Find out what's happening in Greenbeltwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Other parts of the county also saw severe thunderstorms. A tornado warning was issued for the central part of the county near Bladensburg moving east into Cheverly, Bowie and then into Anne Arundel County as well, but a tornado wasn't reported there either.

But heavy rains, hail and damaging winds were reported throughout the county bringing down several trees, debris and power lines. Baltimore Gas & Electric customers in Laurel and Pepco customers in Greenbelt saw hundreds of outages, but Bowie was hit the hardest with BG&E reporting customers without power.

“There have been about eight trees on road we’ve had to deal with and about 1,800 electrical outages but that seems to be the worst of it,” Bowie spokeswoman Una Cooper said.

The storm system was so large, that a NASA satellite captured images of the storm as it travelled from the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic.

Patch readers shared dozens of pictures of the storms over social media accounts with Maryland editors and one Patch editor even captured images of the storm rolling through Hyattsville. (You might notice how quickly the storm formed and dissapated.)

Take a look at the data the National Weather Service compiled during the storm from the College Park Airport. NWS reported that wind gusts got up to 17 mph during the brunt of the storm around 4:20 p.m.

Tell Us: What did you think of the storm? Was it as bad as predicted or overhyped?

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June 13, 2013, 5:02 p.m. — The tornado warnings have been lifted in Prince George's County, after a severe storm system rolled through the area.

Now, hundreds are without power in Laurel, Greenbelt and other hard hit areas in the county.

4:03 p.m.—The National Weather Service has now issued a tornado warning, in effect through 4:30 p.m. The text of the alert follows:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR... EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND... SOUTHERN BALTIMORE COUNTY IN NORTHERN MARYLAND... NORTHERN PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND... NORTHWESTERN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND... SOUTHEASTERN HOWARD COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND...

* UNTIL 430 PM EDT

* AT 353 PM EDT... A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS REPORTED NEAR COLESVILLE... OR NEAR OLNEY... AND WAS MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. THIS TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY COUNTY OFFICIALS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LAUREL... COLUMBIA... FORT MEADE... SEVERN... ELKRIDGE... ARBUTUS... BWI AIRPORT... FULTON...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING AND AVOID WINDOWS. IF OUTDOORS OR IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE... MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST RESORT... EITHER PARK AND STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE... OR ABANDON YOUR VEHICLE AND LAY FLAT IN A LOW SPOT.

THIS TORNADO MAY BE WRAPPED IN RAIN AND HARD TO SEE. TAKE COVER NOW.

3:42 p.m.—The National Weather Service has now upgraded the watch to a severe thunderstorm warning, in effect through 4:30 p.m. The text of the alert follows:

AT 323 PM EDT... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE DETECTED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF POOLESVILLE TO SOUTH RIDING... AND WERE MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. THIS LINE OF STORMS IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ROCKVILLE... THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA... RESTON... HERNDON... GERMANTOWN... MONTGOMERY VILLAGE... NORTH POTOMAC... GAITHERSBURG...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS LINE OF STORMS. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH... MOVE INDOORS TO A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO... REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

THIS LINE OF STORMS HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

12:56 p.m.—The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Prince George's County through 7 p.m. Stay tuned to Patch for more information when and if this storm hits our region.


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