5 Paddleboarders Rescued On Severn River In Storm

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Five paddleboarders on the Severn River were rescued during Friday's nor-easter. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police and Anne Arundel County Fire Department crews searched the river near Yantz Creek and Boone Trail for the missing water enthusiasts.

Shortly before 3:30 p.m., the Natural Resources Police tweeted that it had three paddleboaders safely on board a patrol boat. The search is still on for two more, the department said. Within half an hour, the agency said all five paddleboarders were safely on board the county's fire boat 36. They were pulled from the Severn River near Yantz Creek; they had launched from the area of Boone Trail in Severna Park.

No injuries were reported in the mishap.

Isolated wind damage from gusty winds is possible Saturday. A storm warning may be needed for portions of the Chesapeake Bay on Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said. A gale warning is in effect for the waters Saturday and a gale warning may be needed for portions of the waters Saturday night.

As the storm strengthened it reached the category now know as a bomb cyclone. Authorities warned of dangerous driving conditions, projectiles that could injure pedestrians, power outages from fallen tree limbs, and broken windows from flying debris.

At least two tractor-trailer trucks were flipped over on the state's bridges Friday by the fierce winds. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge was closed for an hour, reopened and closed again, a condition likely to repeat until winds calm. The Hatem Bridge was temporarily closed Friday afternoon because of a downed tree.

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Wind speeds could top those that Superstorm Sandy brought to the state in October 2012, forecasters say, which were in the 61 mph range. "Isolated wind gusts could reach 80 mph, particularly at higher elevations west of the Interstate 95 corridor. While the strongest winds will occur between 6 a.m. and noon Friday, gusts from 55 to 65 mph in the afternoon and through Friday night," the weather service says.

Patch will update this breaking news story.

Photos courtesy of Maryland Natural Resources Police