A severe storm system packed a powerful punch across Maryland during Wednesday’s evening rush, snapping utility poles, delaying trains and triggering ground stops at major airports.
Most severe thunderstorm watches in the state were called off around 6:30 p.m. after storms brought lightning, damaging winds and heavy rain to Western and Central Maryland starting around 4 p.m. Residents were warned by the National Weather Service of winds up to 60 mph and pea-size hail showers.
Ground stops were issued at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
As the storm ripped through Western Maryland, Frederick County Fire & Rescue responded to a dozen snapped telephone poles on Maryland Route 85 near Fingerboard Road, officials said. Several poles fell onto vehicles, but the county fire crews said there were no serious injuries.
The power in the area was deenergized as first responders worked on addressing the fallen poles, fire officials said. The county fire department said in a post that the roads will remain closed for an “extended period” and to expect “significant traffic delays through the remainder of the evening.”
Also in Frederick, a MARC Brunswick Line train was being held after a tree fell near the Frederick Branch, according to MTA Maryland Alerts. The train has been delayed by almost an hour. Another MARC train was being held east of Germantown after a tree was downed over the tracks, according to the alerts.
WJZ reported that the storm sent trees crashing onto vehicles and that downed trees blocked several residential streets in Baltimore.
On Thursday and through the weekend, temperatures are expected to drop as much as 30 degrees in the Baltimore region after the storms and a stint of extreme heat.
Maryland saw near record-breaking highs in the upper 90s on Monday and Tuesday as part of an early-season heat wave across the Eastern U.S.
Temperatures will stay in the 50s and 60s ahead of Memorial Day weekend, according to the weather service, with persistent rain through Sunday. Showers are likely to creep into early next week, meteorologist Jeremy Geiger said.
“Which we need, considering the lack of rain we’ve had over the past couple of months,” he said.
Almost all of Maryland is experiencing severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Last week, the Baltimore Department of Public Works asked residents to conserve water as much as possible.
This story has been updated.



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