Maryland Tornado Threw Boats, Tossed Roofs, Snapped Trees: NWS

QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, MD — A tornado hit the Eastern Shore early Monday morning, knocking out power and bringing down trees and structures near Stevensville, according to weather officials. One person was injured, authorities reported.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, determined that a tornado had blown through after surveying the situation in Queen Anne's county with local emergency management. Boats had been lifted from the water and strewn onto streets, while roofs that had been tossed from townhomes onto yards.

Based upon radar from BWI, officials said a waterspout developed over the Chesapeake Bay. It formed between Annapolis and Stevensville at 1:29 a.m., according to a statement from the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

The waterspout moved ashore in the Bay City area of Kent Island, then traveled 2.37 miles northeast toward Stevensville until lifting at 1:33 a.m.

At the maximum speed, winds were 125 mph, making the weather event an EF2 tornado, according to the National Weather Service.

Damage ranged from residences to utilities.

A warehouse and produce stand were destroyed; the roofs and upper floors were lifted off several wood-framed townhouses; gas leaks occurred; a home was burned in a structure fire; and trees and power lines went down, the weather service stated.

One person was injured from the tornado upon being punctured by debris, according to officials.

Here is the preliminary description of the tornado's course from the National Weather Service:

"The damage path began on Bayside Drive near Bay City and Stafford roads in Bay City. A boat was lifted inland from shore, and several trees were snapped or downed from the tornado. Additional trees were uprooted and torn apart on Buckingham and McKay roads. The tornado made an S-like motion back to the northwest, completely destroying a home at the intersection of Zaidee and Chenowith drives. A large amount of debris was thrown southeast of the tornado path. The tornado then resumed a northeast movement and damaged a roof and snapped trees at the intersection of Victoria Drive and Irene way. Further northwest on Route 8, a produce stand was destroyed.

"The tornado briefly lifted before impacting a series of townhomes near Kent Manor drive and Ellendale Boulevard. Several townhomes were destroyed entirely. Also, several of the townhomes had sides of the structures blown out.

The tornado skipped again, then damaged some roofs near Creekside Commons Court and Butterworth Court. A roof was torn off of a church along Thompson Creek Road in addition to destroying a warehouse. Trees were also downed and uprooted at this location as well.

The tornado skipped one last time across Route 50 and made a final touchdown in the Stevensville Cemetery. Several trees were downed along with wires down. Metal power poles were also blown off their foundations on Route 18."

Calls began pouring into the Queen Anne's County 911 center about transformer failures, fallen trees and structural collapses following strong storms at approximately 1:30 a.m., emergency officials said.

Fire and rescue personnel responded from Queen Anne's, Anne Arundel, Kent, Talbot and Caroline counties as well as from Kent County, Delaware.

Only residents were being allowed into the affected areas, according to Maryland State Police.

The MD 18/Bay Bridge emergency plan was in effect, state officials said Monday afternoon.

The following roads are closed, according to emergency officials:

• Ramp from US 50 west to MD 8 (only allowing northbound traffic)
• Ramp from US 50 to Duke Street. Residents coming from the east should take the Thompson Creek exit and use the access road to MD 8, where they will be screened. Those coming from the west should take MD 8 north, turn around in the business park and take MD 8 south.
• Campsites in Queen Anne's County
• Schools in Queen Anne's County
• MD 8 between US 50 and Bay City Road
• MD 18 at Castle Marina Road

There were 6,996 people without power after 9 a.m. on Monday, according to Delmarva Power. That is 30 percent of the utility company's customers in Queen Anne's County.

Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford was in Kent Island getting briefed on the situation.

The following resources have been opened for those impacted by the storm:

• Emergency shelter at Centreville Middle School, 231 Ruthsburg Road, Centreville (pets welcome)
• Family reunification center at Kent Island Fire Department, 1610 Main Street, Chester

There was a "high risk for severe thunderstorms" on Monday as a cold front approaches, according to Queen Anne's emergency officials, who said the high was 89 degrees.

Check the National Weather Service forecast, and see more from the Queen Anne's Department of Emergency Services.

Pictured, Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford and other officials were given an aerial tour of the storm damage Monday morning and also surveyed the aftermath from the ground. Photo Credit: Maryland State Police and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford.