july 12th 2022 severe winds across nortern md, and microburst in college park/greenbelt

During the late afternoon on July 12th of 2022, a cluster of severe thunderstorms tracked across northern Maryland producing widespread wind damage. The storm entered Carroll County around 4:05pm and a severe thunderstorm warning was already in effect. Radar out of BWI Airport showed radar beam level wind of 85+mph, with damage surveys showing winds of 75-100mph in some places of Carroll county. Damage consisted of dozens and dozens of downed trees and branches, as well as a portion of the roof from the CCPS BOE being blown off. The hardest hit part of Carroll county was near and north of Westminster as well as Hampstead and Manchester.

As the storm progressed eastward into Baltimore and eventually Harford county, winds continued to gust in the 70-90mph range and produced widespread tree and powerline damage. Per the NWS, "Numerous trees snapped and uprooted in Monkton, Sparks, and Hereford areas" which correlates with where the strongest winds were on radar. Again, radar showed winds of 70-80mph across these areas. The video below was shot in central Baltimore County from Ryan Kane, a meteorologist, where winds are estimated at 65-70mph.

WARNING: Colorful language in the beginning

A third area of concentrated wind damage occured in College park northeast into Greenbelt, where a microburst produced winds to around 90mph. A clear surge in the line of storms resulted in the development of a microburst on the leading edge of the bow echo in this area. According to NWS, dozens of large trees were snapped and sheared off, and at least 1 structure sustained damage. This segment of the storm continued east into AA county with sporadic instances of wind damage due to gusts in the 55-70 mph range.