Tornado Devastates Montgomery County Leaving Residents Trapped and Homes Damaged
A powerful storm unleashed a tornado that wreaked havoc across Montgomery County, Maryland, on Wednesday evening, causing a trail of destruction spanning at least 45 miles. The tornado’s path of destruction was most severe in a residential neighborhood in Gaithersburg, where large trees toppled onto houses, trapping residents inside. According to Pete Piringer of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, five people were injured in one home on Dogwood Drive, with one individual sustaining traumatic injuries.
Residents recount the terrifying experience, with one Dogwood Drive resident describing the tornado as an “eerie color” that struck suddenly, causing the foundation of homes to shake. The aftermath of the tornado left widespread power outages, downed wires, and debris scattered across roadways.
Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman expressed relief that there were no fatalities resulting from the tornado, despite significant property damage. The tornado’s impact was captured in a dashboard camera video shared with News4, showing debris swirling violently on the streets of Gaithersburg and an apparent utility explosion as the tornado passed through.
Mark Monis, who pursued his dream of being a tornado chaser, narrowly escaped danger as he witnessed the tornado near Gaithersburg High School. His experience was filled with fear as trees and branches struck his vehicle, highlighting the destructive force of the tornado.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado touching down in Poolesville at 7:14 p.m., with Montgomery County Fire and RMS communications responding to 35 storm-related incidents between 6 and 8:30 p.m. The tornado’s path of damage extended eastward at a speed of 20-25 mph, affecting areas such as Poolesville, Gaithersburg, and Olney.
As the tornado continued its destructive path, power outages, downed trees, and storm-related incidents were reported, prompting tornado warnings across the Washington, D.C., area. The severity of the tornado was underscored by winds reaching approximately 110 mph, leading to a “particularly dangerous situation” as confirmed by the NWS.
Residents were urged to take immediate shelter during tornado warnings, seeking refuge on the lowest floor of sturdy buildings, away from windows. The storm’s impact extended to parts of Maryland and Virginia, with a flood watch issued for affected areas until 10 p.m.
Stay tuned with Storm Team4 for the latest updates on weather forecasts and severe weather alerts by downloading the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android devices.
