Silver Spring Tornado Causes Significant Damage, Displaces Residents

SILVER SPRING, MD — A tornado touched down in the Northwood Park neighborhood of Silver Spring Monday afternoon, officials said. It lasted for about a minute, but displaced a number of residents and caused sizable damage.

The National Weather Service said the tornado was about 100 yards wide and lasted from 3:48 to 3:49 p.m. The tornado, with winds reaching 70 mph, was rated EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

At about 4 p.m., firefighters received a call for trees and wires down around Dennis Avenue, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said. Piringer said a "fairly widespread area of several blocks" saw "pretty significant damage."

Homes were damaged by wind and falling trees, several families were displaced and streets were closed. Two residents were taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries, Piringer said.

Tens of thousands of residents in the greater DC area were without power Monday. The National Weather Service has issued multiple watches for the Baltimore-Washington region Monday, including a severe thunderstorm watch and a flash flood watch.

Photos: Pete Piringer