3 Inches Of Rain Reported In Abingdon

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Storms brought torrential rain, hail and lightning Wednesday night to Harford County. A flurry of weather watches and warnings expired as storms cleared the area, but they left behind inches of rain and thousands of power outages.

More than 270 people were without power in Harford County as of 10:15 p.m., according to BGE.

Over 90 Delmarva Power customers had outages as of 10:20 p.m. as well in Harford County.

BGE has restored power to hundreds more since the storm began; the company said 1,112 Harford County customers were reporting outages after 6 p.m. At that time, Delmarva reported 131 outages.

The outages followed rounds of severe thunderstorms that kicked up late Wednesday afternoon. Harford County had been under a severe thunderstorm warning until 5:30 p.m. due to torrential rain and continuous cloud-to-ground lightning.

In Abingdon, 3 inches of rain fell during the storm, according to preliminary data submitted to the National Weather Service, which indicated Forest Hill saw 2.01 inches of rain.

By 9 p.m., the National Weather Service reported storms had left, canceling a flash flood watch that had previously been issued for the region.

EXPIRED: After severe storms brought lightning, hail and torrential rain to Harford County, the area remains on alert Wednesday night. A severe thunderstorm watch and a flash flood watch are still in effect.

BGE was reporting 1,112 customers in Harford County were without power as of 6:10 p.m. For those who use Delmarva Power, 131 customers were experiencing outages in Harford County as well.

Report outages to BGE online or call 1-877-778-2222 for outages or 1-800-685-0123 for downed wires.

Call Delmarva Power at 1-800-898-8042.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 7 p.m. for nine jurisdictions in Maryland: Harford, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Howard, Prince George's and St. Mary's counties and Baltimore City.

A heat advisory is in effect until 8 p.m.

Roadways may become flooded, and a flash flood watch is in effect until 11 p.m.

PREVIOUS: A storm with powerful winds, torrential rain, lightning and hail the size of quarters has led the National Weather Service to issue a severe thunderstorm warning for Harford County. The warning is in effect until 5:30 p.m.

Large hail, damaging winds and continuous cloud-to-ground lightning are occurring, according to the National Weather Service.

At 5:10 p.m., officials said severe thunderstorms were on a line from near Bel Air South to near Baltimore, moving east at 15 mph. Radar indicated 65 mph and hail up to a quarter in size.

These areas may be impacted, according to the warning: Baltimore, Middle River, Aberdeen, Havre De Grace, Aberdeen Proving, Ground, Millers Island, North Point State Park, Sparrows Point, Back River, Dundalk, Towson, Bel Air South, Essex, Parkville, Bel Air North, Carney, Perry Hall, Rosedale, Rossville and Brooklyn Park.

At 4:51 p.m., radar showed severe thunderstorms on a line from Pleasant Hills to Baltimore, moving east at 15 mph. Damaging wind gusts up to 65 mph and isolated hail up to the size of quarters were detected, officials said.

"Move indoors immediately," the National Weather Service warns. "Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning."

Roadways may become flooded, and a flash flood watch is in effect until 11 p.m.

Officials initially issued the severe thunderstorm warning after radar showed a severe thunderstorm near Jarrettsville before 4 p.m. that was moving east at 25 mph. The storm had 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-sized hail, weather officials reported.

At 4:20 p.m., a line of severe thunderstorms was on a line from Bel Air North to Towson and was moving east at 15 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

During the severe thunderstorm warning period, people are advised to go inside to stay safe from wind and lightning and move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building as a precaution.

Do not drive underneath wooded areas until the threat has passed, as trees and branches may fall. Roads may become blocked by downed trees, and localized power outages are possible, according to the warning.

A flash flood watch is also in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday for Harford County, where heavy rain during thunderstorms could add up to 1 to 3 inches within an hour, leading to a rapid rise in water level.

A heat advisory remains effective until 8 p.m.

See Also: Heat Advisory In MD Calls For 107 Degrees On Heat Index