Tornado Confirmed In Columbia: National Weather Service

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Columbia experienced an EF-1 tornado Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service confirmed Thursday evening. A storm survey confirmed the event, officials reported.

The tornado touched down in Columbia at 3:34 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, according to weather officials.

Part of an office building roof in the 9700 block of Broken Land Parkway was ripped off, and a number of trees nearby were snapped, the weather service reported.

More details about the tornado are expected to be released from the National Weather Service on Friday. An EF-1 tornado is the second-weakest on the scale, which starts at 0. The rating means that gusts were estimated to have been 86 to 100 mph in the area where the damage occurred.

UPDATE: Tornado Traveled 5.5 Miles, Howard County Storm Survey Reveals

A Columbia woman sustained minor injuries when a tree fell through a home in the 10200 block of Wayover Way around 3:40 p.m. in Columbia, according to the Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue Services. That location is less than 2 miles west of where the damage was reported on Broken Land Parkway.

One person was taken for treatment of injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, the department reported.

The area was under a tornado warning from 3:30 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 23.

Officials asked residents to stay a safe distance away from downed trees and power lines and call 911 to report them.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Howard County Thursday after radar indicated a severe storm capable of producing a tornado was over Columbia at 3:30 p.m., moving east at 40 mph. Hail and heavy rain may accompany the tornado, along with flying debris, the National Weather Service warned.

Once the warning expired at 4 p.m., the Howard County Police Department said that it had received reports of trees down countywide. Drivers were advised to stay off the roads if possible and to exercise caution.

Several road closures were reported after the storm had passed, including Shaker Drive and Eden Brook Drive.

Trees fell on houses, decks, sidewalks and roads, according to WBAL's Capt. Roy Taylor, who viewed the scene from a news chopper, as did NBC 4 out of Washington, D.C.

"Our crews have been busy all afternoon running storm-related calls (on top of our 'normal' call volume)," the Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue Services said in a statement after 7 p.m. "Thankfully, only minor injuries have been reported."

Buses were held at various schools in the Howard County Public School System, where students sheltered in place during the tornado warning and dismissal was delayed until 4 p.m.

"Heavy rain may hide this tornado!" the tornado warning stated. "Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. Take cover!"

During a tornado warning, people are advised to stay indoors and go to the center of an interior room.

Once the tornado warning expired, a severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect until 8 p.m.

Tornado Warning including Columbia MD, Clarksville MD, Pine Orchard MD until 4:00 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Mn2niKHSje
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) May 23, 2019

Tornado Alert Siren going off on campus of @umbc advising to seek shelter immediately. #wbal pic.twitter.com/uUJgXZyZHT
— Lowell Melser (@MelserWBAL) May 23, 2019