F3 Tornado — Carroll, Maryland

1996-07-19 · near Gamber, Carroll, Maryland

Wider weather episode

One of the most potent tornadoes in recorded history in the state of Maryland tracked for 2 and 1/4 miles through the Mystic Kane and Four Seasons subdivisions just off state route 32 northwest of Gamber. The tornado was a strong F3 (180 mph estimated winds) with multiple vortices. Homes and trees struck by individual vortices sustained the worst damage. There were several eyewitness accounts of the tornado/funnel cloud shortly before touchdown.In all, 66 structures sustained damage. Twelve single-family homes were destroyed, five which lost most of the second story and garages. Three persons were injured. Two children were injured when the tornado blew them out of the second level of one of the homes. Their father suffered cuts and bruises when a wall partially collapsed on him while he was trying the rescue the children. Another dozen homes were deemed temporarily uninhabitable with substantial roof and siding damage. An additional 37 homes, a couple of apartments, and another barn received some damage. Many material items were sucked out of the homes, from bicycles to jewelry. Several automobiles were damaged by fallen and/or flying debris. Debris littered the ground for miles. A barn along route 32 was completely destroyed, and pieces of it were found as far away as 3.5 miles to the southeast of the barn's original location.Dozens of trees were snapped, shredded, debarked, and uprooted. Corn stalks were sucked up leaving six inch stubs as the tornado crossed a field west of route 32. A corn stalk was embedded into the wall of a house 1/2 mile away from the stalk's original location. Numerous airborne missiles (large and small) were generated, puncturing holes into homes and becoming embedded into the ground. A refrigerator was found wrapped around a mailbox. A van was dragged 50 feet, then flipped over two times. Other vehicles were also damaged.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.5000, -76.9800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5568218. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.