An evening thunderstorm erupted over Baltimore early Tuesday evening and stalled over the city, causing significant rainfall with flash flooding, damaging winds, downed trees, and hail warnings.
The severe thunderstorm warning remained in effect until 9 p.m. Videos and photographs taken by Baltimore residents showed cars nearly completely covered, with motorists stranded on their roofs. Powerful winds pushed the overwhelming rainfall down the streets, taking garbage cans and other debris away with the current. Officials estimated 3-5 inches of rain fell in less than an hour.
The National Weather Service warned that the storm could be moving to locations south of the city, bringing the mighty rain, powerful winds, and golf ball-sized hail with it.
Residents shared their experience that, despite the warnings, they were largely unprepared for the storm.
“flash flooding in baltimore,” one user posted on Twitter. “i waded through the river w my puppy and it was so scary! strikes with no warning!”
flash flooding in baltimore ? i waded through the river w my puppy and it was so scary! strikes with no warning! ⛈ @WTOPinMD #baltimore pic.twitter.com/ni7xdxG1Kg
— Erin McGoff (@erinmcgoff) August 6, 2019
From Canton Neighbors group pic.twitter.com/Y50lGTeOfd
— Ben Yelin (@byelin) August 6, 2019
Significant flooding in the #Baltimore area with radar estimates of 3-5″ in the past hour with rain still falling. This storm appears stationary as it is back building with new development taking place on the upwind side. #mdwx pic.twitter.com/UaibEzLcY6
— Dynamic Weather Agency LLC. (@DynamicWxLLC) August 6, 2019
Fells Point, Baltimore pic.twitter.com/LZLN7wJUnp
— Gabe (@BmoreGabe) August 6, 2019
