Weather Alert: Severe Thunderstorms Possible Across Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD — Several Maryland counties, plus the city of Baltimore, are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. ET Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service, counties in the watch area include: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s.

Cities in the watch area include: Aberdeen, Annapolis, Arnold, Aspen Hill, Baltimore, Bel Air, Bethesda, Bowie, Camp Springs, Catonsville, College Park, Columbia, Dundalk, Edgewood, Eldersburg, Ellicott City, Essex, Fallston, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Glen Burnie, Greenbelt, Havre De Grace, Joppatowne, Laurel, Odenton, Parkville, Pikesville, Potomac, Rockville, Severn, Severna Park, Silver Spring, Towson, Washington and Westminster.

A thunderstorm is considered severe when it exhibits one or more of the following:

• Large hail (hailstones that are one inch diameter or greater, so hail the size of a quarter or larger fits this criterion).
• Wind gusts of 58 mph or greater.
• A tornado.

The Weather Channel says a severe thunderstorm watch means that atmospheric conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorm to develop. The severe thunderstorm watch outlines an area where an organized threat of severe thunderstorms is expected generally during a three- to six-hour period.

During a severe thunderstorm watch, it is important to think about where you will be during the lifetime of the watch. If you are outdoors, develop a Weather Ready plan that includes directions to the nearest lightning and hail-proof shelter. Keep in mind that severe hail has the ability to smash car windshields, cause injuries and, in the extreme, punch holes in roofs.