Watching the grill get pelted @WTOP @nbcwashington #hail #CalvertCounty pic.twitter.com/R92wat6127
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) February 25, 2017
Big raindrops have arrived near @Fort_Belvoir @WTOP @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/O95J2caHPn
— Rachel de Morales (@RMoandMo) February 25, 2017
WASHINGTON — Saturday morning started off warm and balmy, but it didn’t last. Severe thunderstorms swept through the area in the afternoon, bringing in 60 mph wind gusts and hail the size of ping pong balls.
The heavy hail that accompanied the storm as it moved from Stafford County, Virginia, into Southern Maryland was remarkable: Most residents affected by this rare February storm can now say they have received more measurable hail than snow during one of the warmest winters on record.
The National Weather Service said a storm capable of producing a tornado was spotted over La Plata, Maryland, and moved northeast at 50 mph, triggering a tornado warning for parts of Maryland. The National Weather Service may conduct a survey on Sunday. If confirmed, it would be one of three February tornadoes on record for the state of Maryland. The last February tornado occurred in 2014.
There was a path of minor damage from the Lowe’s Hardware in La Plata to the St. Charles subdivisions east of Waldorf. Countless trees were downed and some were snapped at their base. While others were toppled, root ball and all.
St. Charles Parkway closed due to fallen trees and storm debris near Huntington Apartments.
“For the most part it’s been tree damage,” Charles County Sheriff Lt. Jason Stoddard said. “We have had a few minor reports of structural damage to both residential and commercial areas; however, there have been no injuries.”
Stoddard said the sheriff’s office responded to roughly 125 storm-related calls and the fire department responded to 40 calls.
“Within about two hours we had all the roads open,” Stoddard said.
NBC Storm Team 4 Meteorologist Tom Kierein said a line of storms formed east of the Blue Ridge and South Mountain and headed east toward the D.C. area.
The storm cleared much of the region by around 5 p.m.
Power outages
Pepco customers can report outages by calling 1-877-PEPCO62 (1-877-737-2662), visiting their website or through a mobile app, available for download.
Dominion customers can report and check the status of power outages on their website or by calling 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).
Outages and downed wires for Baltimore Gas and Electric Company may be reported on their website or by calling 1-877-778-2222.
Report outages to other power companies:
Potomac Edison: 888-544-4877 or click here.
NOVEC: 888-335-0500 or click here.
SMECO: 877-747-6326 or click here.
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative: 800-552-3904 or click here.
WTOP’s Tiffany Arnold contributed to this report.
