Storm Causes Flooding, Cancellations, Warnings

WASHINGTON - Winds and heavy rain from a severe storm that blew through the Mid-Atlantic region Thursday caused flooding, prompted some schools to cancel evening activities and led weather forecasters to issue a tornado watch.

The storm system, which spawned tornadoes that were blamed for several deaths in the South, passed through the Washington area during the afternoon.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the area through 6 p.m. Flood warnings also were issued for the Washington and Baltimore regions.

No tornadoes had been reported by mid-afternoon, said Jim Lee, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's office in Sterling. Flooding was reported in small creeks in Montgomery and Fairfax counties, he said, but larger rivers stayed within their banks.

Montgomery Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said emergency crews performed several water rescues Thursday. In Germantown, a minivan became trapped in swiftly rising water about 1 p.m. and two people had to be rescued.

In Baltimore, yellow "caution" tape blocked off most of the brick pathway around the edge of the Inner Harbor, where the waves were choppy. Water was up to the steps of one of the Harborplace shopping pavilions.

The MARC commuter rail service said flash flood warnings would force trains to cut their speed to no greater than 40 mph during the evening rush hour on the Brunswick and Camden lines. MARC said passengers should expect delays of 30 minutes to an hour.

At least one tree was reported down on the Penn Line in Bowie and signals were out in the Rockville area.

Meanwhile, the Maryland Transportation Authority barred trailers and other vehicles vulnerable to high winds from crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Several school districts in Virginia and Maryland canceled after school activities and evening classes because of the weather. And the Montgomery County Parks Department announced that all outdoor activities were canceled Thursday evening.

Lee said the severe weather was not unusual for November. While the peak of tornado activity in the region is in May and June, tornadoes have occurred in every month of the year, he said.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)