Severe Weekend Storms Disrupt Maryland, Leave Thousands Without Power

Maryland residents are grappling with the aftermath of severe storms that swept through the region over the weekend, causing significant disruption and damage. With more storms anticipated on Monday, the situation remains precarious.

Heavy rainfall and gusty winds led to fallen trees and downed power lines, leaving many residents without electricity. At the peak of the outages, approximately 50,000 customers of Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) were without power on Sunday morning. By early Monday, that number had decreased to about 29,000.

Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Harford counties experienced the most extensive outages. BGE has noted that downed poles and wires are particularly concerning due to the storm's intensity. Approximately half of all power outages during storms are caused by falling trees and debris.

BGE reported that it expects to restore power to 80% of affected customers by 6 p.m. on Monday, with the majority of outages resolved by 11 p.m. on Tuesday. The utility has mobilized additional crews and mutual assistance contractors to expedite restoration efforts.

The Maryland Transit Administration has suspended light rail services at several stations south of Patapsco due to the power outages caused by the storm. Bus shuttles are currently operating at select stations, including Glen Burnie/Cromwell and BWI Airport, until regular service can resume.

At Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, a ground stop was implemented on Sunday evening due to the storms but has since been lifted. Travelers faced delays, with some, like Stephen Greiman, experiencing canceled flights.

Reports from the Baltimore County Department of Public Works indicate that as of Sunday evening, there were 110 downed trees and 23 closed roads. Areas such as Aberdeen and Reisterstown reported significant damage, including fallen trees on homes and roadways.

In addition to the power outages, flooding was reported in Fells Point, while Odenton saw a tree fall onto a structure. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries related to these incidents.

Due to the storm damage, several Maryland State Parks, including parts of Gunpowder Falls State Park, have been closed until further notice.

Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).