Maryland braces for flash flooding, damaging storms as thousands remain without power

Another round of thunderstorms is expected to sweep across Maryland on Sunday evening, threatening flash flooding, damaging winds and more power outages as thousands of residents remain in the dark from Saturday night’s storms.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Maryland and Washington through late Sunday evening, warning thunderstorms could dump 2-4 inches of rain and trigger flash flooding. Stronger storms could also produce wind gusts of 60-65 mph and frequent lightning. A heat advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m., with temperatures expected to reach 96 degrees and heat index values to hit 106.

The worsening forecast has prompted cancellations. Baltimore County called off its Dundalk, Kingsville and Towson fireworks celebrations as forecasters warned the most severe weather is expected during the late afternoon and evening.

The latest storms come less than 24 hours after a powerful line of thunderstorms brought flooding, water rescues, downed trees and widespread power outages across central Maryland. About 30,000 Baltimore Gas and Electric customers remained without power Sunday afternoon as crews worked to restore service.

A BGE spokesperson said Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties were hit the hardest. Saturday’s storm damaged electrical equipment and culminated in downed poles, wires and trees that caused roughly half of the outages.

The spokesperson said the company estimates 80% of customers will have their power restored by 6 p.m. Monday. Most others without power should expect to have service back by 11 p.m. Tuesday, although that could change, based on the damage, incoming storms and heat.

Light rail service between the Patapsco and Cromwell stations, including service to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, is suspended because of the storm and an ongoing power outage. Cromwell Station is inaccessible, and shuttle buses are operating to accommodate passengers.

Dan Hofmann, lead meteorologist with the NWS, said there’s a “lot of energy in the atmosphere.”

“Some of these stronger storms, if one happens to go right over your neighborhood, could produce wind gusts of 60 to 65 miles an hour, frequent lightning and some very heavy rain,” he said. “They may put down a lot of rain, and that could result in some flash flooding.”

The change in weather comes after the city endured a week’s worth of dangerous heat and thunderstorms that impacted Fourth of July festivities and local services.

On Saturday, temperatures in downtown Baltimore broke a record at 104. The last time temperatures were close to that high was 2002, when the peak was 101, Hofmann said. It was one of several heat records broken during the first few days of the month.

By the end of the day, the city fire department had responded to 34 heat-related calls. No deaths were reported.

A lightning bolt also may have been the cause of a four-alarm fire at a Sherwin-Williams warehouse in Curtis Bay that took dozens of first responders to contain.

The blaze was followed shortly by another fire at The Shipyard at Lighthouse Point, a condominium complex in Canton.

The Baltimore County Fire Department rescued six people after their boat capsized at Hart-Miller Island late Saturday night. Crews responded to “multiple boat incidents throughout the evening.”

First responders and locals were assessing the extent of storm damage Sunday.

This article has been updated.