This story, published at 1:12 p.m. Aug. 7, 2023, will be continuously updated with live coverage.
9:55 a.m. Tuesday:
Rod Wilson, a senior communications/media professional at Pepco, told MoCo360 around 9:45 a.m. that “we’re very pleased with how well the system held up,” and that the severe weather projected was much worse than what actually happened.
The storm ended up being worse north of Montgomery County. There was a tornado warning issued in Carroll County around 5 p.m., and news reports indicated some motorists there were trapped when utility poles fell.
Wilson said that at the peak of the storm Monday night, there were 278 customers without power in Montgomery County, and as of 8:30 a.m., there were only 81 without power. Those customers should have their power restored by 2 p.m. Tuesday, Wilson said.
At 8:45 a.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation announced that crews had responded to 36 locations since the storm started Monday night. There were more locations reported Tuesday morning, and crews were clearing them. Officials urge residents to call 311 to report downed trees on roads.
The areas of roads that were closed Monday include:
- Philadelphia Avenue and Takoma Avenue
- Sligo Creek Parkway and Three Oaks Drive
- Little Seneca and MD 355
- Ednor Road between Harbour Towne Road and Woodale Drive
As of a 7:45 a.m. social media post, MCDOT said they “removed storm debris from roadways at all reported locations and will continue to respond as needed,” but the area of Sligo Creek Parkway and Three Oaks Drive is still closed.
Also, Pete Piringer, spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, between 5 and 6 p.m. Monday, saying that there were multiple trees and wires down near Peachtree Road and Old Hundred Road in the area of Clarksburg and Boyds and that a possible transformer blew around Honeysuckle Dr. near Kemptown Road in Damascus.
5:20 p.m.:
NWS said the severe thunderstorm warning for Germantown, Rockville and Gaithersburg is extended until 5:45 p.m.
4:50 p.m.:
There is also a severe thunderstorm warning for Olney and Montgomery Village until 5:15 p.m., and there could be wind gusts to 80 mph, NWS said.
4:45 p.m.:
There is a severe thunderstorm warning for Germantown and Rockville until 5:15 p.m., and the storm will contain wind gusts up to 70 mph, according to NWS.
Also, there have been numerous closures in the last hour due to the inclement weather:
- Montgomery County Circuit Court closed at 3:30 p.m.
- MCPS buildings and facilities closed at 3:30 p.m. for non-essential employees.
- MoCo Recreation outdoor pools closed at 4 p.m.
- MoCo Recreation camps, classes and programs after 5 p.m. were canceled
1:55 p.m.:
The NWS issued a Tornado Watch for Montgomery County that will be in effect until 9 p.m. Monday.
1:12 p.m.: Montgomery County residents can expect severe storms Monday afternoon and evening, with the National Weather Service (NWS) calling for “high confidence that many storms will contain damaging winds, severe hail and/or tornadoes.”
County and state officials advised residents to get off roads, charge up devices and stock up essentials for the window between 2 and 11 p.m.
The agency placed the area at the fourth point (“moderate”) on a five-point scale of severity.
“Some perspective: This is the first moderate risk for severe weather in at least 10 years for much of our forecast area,” NWS Baltimore-Washington announced Monday morning on social media.
NWS added that damaging winds are the primary threat.
The NWS issued a Tornado Watch for Montgomery County that will be in effect until 9 p.m. Monday.
Montgomery County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) advises residents to:
- Charge devices (phones, flashlights, laptops) in advance
- Stock up on basic supplies
- Secure outdoor furniture
- Fuel vehicles
- Have a plan ready to quickly seek shelter in a sturdy building away from windows if warnings are issued
Also, the Maryland State Highway Administration advises that people driving in the storm to reduce their speed, increase driving distance, and turn on their headlights.
Earl Stoddard, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer in Montgomery County, advised residents to avoid traveling during the peak storm period and to watch for pedestrians and bicyclists amid potential signal outages.
Watches and warnings will be issued via the Alert Montgomery, which can send texts, emails or voice messages
Pete Piringer, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service’s spokesperson, urged residents to report power outages in the area to PEPCO by calling 1-877-737-2662.
