Thunderstorms

A band of strong thunderstorms with the potential for heavy rain and small hail was moving toward the Baltimore region Wednesday evening but fizzled before reaching the area. A special weather statement alerted Washington and Frederick counties of the storm about 5:40 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for parts of southern Frederick and Washington counties as of about 6:10 p.m. Radar images show the storms fading as they moved into Maryland. But the risk of storms overnight remained.

Thunderstorms and rain showers are expected to usher in cooler temperatures to the Baltimore area Friday, with highs in the mid-70s, according to the National Weather Service. Showers were likely to start early Friday morning, with a chance of storms through the early afternoon. A so-called "back-door" front, moving in from the east, was expected to cool overnight lows down to the upper 40s and lower 50s. The cold front could bring breezy winds of 10-20 mph. Beyond the front, through the weekend, more seasonable temperatures are forecast.

The National Weather Service is calling for Wednesday to be rainy in the Baltimore area, with a high near 62 and winds becoming southerly between 11 and 14 miles per hour. The rain may be followed by thunderstorms, which are possible after 3 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. A small craft advisory is in effect for late Wednesday for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and the tidal Potomac River. The advisory will continue through Wednesday evening for the middle and upper tidal Potomac River and into predawn Thursday for the Maryland Chesapeake Bay and lower tidal Potomac River.

The National Weather Service is calling for showers and thunderstorms in the Baltimore area Monday, with a high near 73 and southwest winds 9 to 11 miles per hour. The chance of precipitation is 80 percent. A small craft advisory is in effect Monday for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and the lower tidal Potomac River. Forecasters warn that Monday's thunderstorms may produce strong and potentially damaging wind gusts. Monday night is expected to start out mostly cloudy and then become mostly clear, with a low around 50 and northwest winds 10 to 13 miles per hour.

More than 10,500 customers lost electricity and roads were closed due to high water Sunday evening as two thunderstorms swept through the region. Baltimore City police reported shortly after 9 p.m. that parts of I-83 were flooded. The ramp from I-83 southbound onto West Northern Parkway was flooded. Northern Parkway to Coldspring Lane was closed. In Baltimore County, scattered outages left intersections dark. Police precinct 3, the Franklin precinct, may have been struck by lightning that caused a power outage, police said.

Thunderstorms and rain showers are expected to usher in cooler temperatures to the Baltimore area Friday, with highs in the mid-70s, according to the National Weather Service. Showers were likely to start early Friday morning, with a chance of storms through the early afternoon. A so-called "back-door" front, moving in from the east, was expected to cool overnight lows down to the upper 40s and lower 50s. The cold front could bring breezy winds of 10-20 mph. Beyond the front, through the weekend, more seasonable temperatures are forecast.

A line of thunderstorms swept through Central Maryland last night, prompting a brief tornado warning for Frederick and Carroll counties, but most of the Baltimore region emerged with only minor damage, authorities said. A Harford County police dispatcher said the emergency center received about 30 calls reporting downed power lines. In Baltimore County, a 40-foot tree blew over, blocking the intersection of West Joppa Road and Woodbine Avenue. A house on Mount Holly Street in West Baltimore was damaged by a fire shortly before 10 p.m. that officials said might have been caused by lightning.

A fast-moving series of thunderstorms moved across Central Maryland last night, with wind and lightning knocking out power outages and triggering security alarms and giving Anne Arundel County a "good soaking," fire, police and weather officials reported. The storms, which swept across the region about 8 p.m., dumped more than an inch of rain in some areas and brought a spectacular display of lightning, striking some houses in Severna Park and Crofton. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The National Weather Service is calling for Tuesday to be mostly cloudy in the Baltimore area, with showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, a high near 86 and light south winds increasing to 6 to 11 miles per hour in the morning. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between one quarter of an inch and one half of an inch are possible. Forecasters are warning that there is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms late Tuesday afternoon and evening. They say some storms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail and that a few storms could produce tornadoes, especially in northeastern Maryland and southern Maryland.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center is warning that the Northeast could experience severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and hail thanks to a cold front on Saturday. There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms from northern Maryland to upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. The National Weather Service's forecast for the Baltimore area is a 70 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms in late afternoon. Wind gusts could be up to 26 mph. Rain could continue through Saturday night.

Mount St. Joseph's football players took the field and warmed up for about 25 minutes last night at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex, but that's about all they did. Before the game could even get started, persistent thunderstorms rolled in, eventually cancelling the Gaels' game against Friendship Collegiate, from Washington, D.C., in the I-95 Kickoff Classic. Gaels coach Blake Henry said the teams waited for two hours, but his team finally headed home about 9:30.

A waterspout, or tornado over water, was spotted by members of the public over the Back River near Edgemere on Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service said the sightings occurred about 6:40 p.m. About the same time, Doppler Radar indicated a line of thunderstorms moving through the heart of Baltimore's Inner Harbor that are capable of producing strong wind gusts and waterspouts, the weather service said in announcing a special marine warning.

First was the heavy rain, forcing Maryland State Fair attendees awaiting the Band Perry to take cover in the grandstand of the racetrack and delaying the popular country band's set for more than an hour. Then, seven songs into the show Saturday night, flashes of lightning sent Kimberly Perry and her brothers Neil and Reid, along with their four-piece backing band, searching for cover. Following another delay of about 20 minutes, it was announced that the remainder of the show would be canceled, drawing a smattering of boos from the disappointed crowd.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for central Baltimore County and the northern part of the city. The storm could produce quarter-sized hail, as well as winds exceeding 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The warning is in effect through 7:45 p.m. Locations under the warning include: Pikesville; Fallstaff; Cockeysville; Roland Park; Timonium; Towson; Homeland; Morgan State University; Woodring; and Parkville. alisonk@baltsun.com twitter.com/aliknez

Heavy rains that lashed central Maryland on Sunday forced a portion of East Monument Street to be evacuated after a large sinkhole in the road reopened and expanded, according to a city public works spokesman. Tons of gravel and recycled concrete that city crews had used to backfill the hole began washing away as an estimated 1 to 3 inches of rain fell, forcing emergency crews to once again evacuate the north side of the 2300 block of East Monument Street, said Kurt Kocher, the spokesman.