Thunderstorm Wind — Montgomery, Maryland

2023-07-29 · near Bethesda, Montgomery, Maryland

Event narrative

Dozens of trees, branches and wires blew down near Glen Echo and Cabin John. Numerous trees blew down onto power lines. Cabin John Parkway, Clara Barton Parkway, and Macarthur Boulevard remained closed for several days due to downed trees. A tree blew down onto a house in the 6000 block of Cromwell Drive. Trees blew down on eastbound MD-190 River Road at Whittier Boulevard. Trees blew down on eastbound MD-614 Goldsboro Road at Wedgewood Road.

Wider weather episode

A strong cold front intersected a very hot, humid, and unstable airmass across the Mid-Atlantic shortly after peak heating. Aided by dynamics and moderately strong shear from an approaching upper-level trough, the front spawned bands of thunderstorms that produced considerable wind damage particularly in the I-95 corridor. Some areas saw the worst thunderstorm-driven wind speeds and damage since the derecho in June 2012, though the area affected by the highest magnitude of winds was not nearly as large.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.9699, -77.1199)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1108180. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.