1 Tornado Confirmed, Most Watches End: National Weather Service

MARYLAND — After the National Weather Service issued a slew of tornado warnings between 4 and 7 p.m. Thursday, officials confirmed at least one tornado touched down in central Maryland.

Radar confirmed a tornado hit south of Annapolis around 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. It then headed east toward Bay Ridge.

Multiple trees and utility poles were taken down in the Edgewater and Annapolis areas, where there was also siding and shingle damage to homes, officials said.

The threat of severe weather is not over, the National Weather Service advised. Isolated instances of flooding are possible through Thursday, according to forecasters.

"The first wave of storms over the northern Chesapeake and central MD will continue moving east out of our area," the National Weather Service reported before 6:20 p.m. "However, risk of severe thunderstorms with tornadic potential continues through 10 p.m. as more storms [are] expected to develop and move east."

A tornado watch was in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for much of Maryland, meaning there was potential for a tornado to develop during this period. However, officials expired the watch before 8 p.m. for all but Caroline, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties.

Several earlier tornado warnings have also expired (see below).

The following flood warnings were also issued Thursday evening:

• Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties are under a flood warning until 1:45 a.m. Friday. Officials reported after 7:40 p.m. that 1 to 3 inches of rain had fallen in the area with 1 to 1.5 inches of additional rain possible.
• Montgomery and Prince George's counties are under a flash flood warning until 8:30 p.m. Officials said emergency management reported flash flooding was occurring, with vehicles trapped in high water in Glenmont. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain had fallen after 7 p.m., with water running downstream through the Rock Creek and Sligo Creek basins into Washington, D.C., as additional heavy thunderstorms approached from the southwest.
  "To repeat, flash flooding is already occurring, with renewed flash flooding expected," the National Weather Service warned.

See Also: Tornado Touched Down Near Annapolis

Earlier tornado warnings have expired:

• Anne Arundel County until 6:30 p.m.
• Montgomery and Prince George's County until 5:45 p.m.
• Baltimore and Harford counties and Baltimore City until 5:45 p.m
• Howard, Montgomery and Prince Georges County until 5:15 p.m.
• Baltimore County until 5 p.m.
• Carroll, Frederick and Howard counties until 4:15 p.m.

Due to severe weather, the Maryland Transit Administration held bus, light rail and subway services were suspended temporarily from about 5:15 to 5:35 p.m. They were released before 5:40 p.m.

Carroll and Howard counties were under a severe thunderstorm warning until 4:30 p.m. after radar detected a severe thunderstorm near Sykesville at 4:05 p.m. with 60 mph wind gusts that was moving east at 30mph.

A tornado warning has expired for Carroll, Frederick and Howard counties. The warning was in effect from about 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Thursday after radar detected a severe thunderstorm with rotation capable of producing a tornado over New Market. The storm was moving east at 25 mph, according to forecasters, who said it would be near Mount Airy around 4 p.m and Eldersburg at approximately 4:15 p.m.

People in warned areas should take cover immediately, moving to a basement or an interior room away from windows on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Those outside, in vehicles or in mobile homes should move to the nearest shelter to find protection from flying debris. Tree damage is likely, and roofs, siding and windows may be impacted. Mobile homes could be destroyed, according to the tornado warning.

See Also: Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Flash Flooding Possible Thursday

Earlier, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester counties and Baltimore City had been under a tornado watch. People in these areas were advised to plan to take cover in the event of a severe storm.