Tornado Watch, 80 MPH Winds Hit Prince George's County Amid Severe Storms

A tornado watch blanketed Bowie through 7 p.m. on March 16 as a powerful line of severe storms swept across Maryland, bringing wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph, hail, and heavy rain that downed trees in Hyattsville and across Prince George's County.

Trees fell on Kilmer Street in Hyattsville and were reported down countywide on March 16 and 17. Cities closed facilities in response to the threat, and the National Weather Service issued thunderstorm warnings as conditions deteriorated. Officials warned residents to expect hazardous driving conditions, possible property damage, and scattered power outages.

Governor Wes Moore declared a State of Preparedness the Sunday before the storms arrived, activating the full weight of state government ahead of the system. The declaration allowed emergency management, transportation, law enforcement, and public health agencies to coordinate and deploy resources quickly. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Operations Center as the storm approached.

The system moved across Maryland in a broad arc on March 16, beginning mid-morning in Western Maryland and pushing through Eastern counties into the evening. The storms carried the potential for damaging winds, hail, and an elevated tornado risk, with forecasters warning of impacts to structures, power lines, and trees.

A wind advisory ran from 1 p.m. Monday through 1 a.m. Tuesday, covering parts of coastal and lower Maryland including Dorchester, Inland Worcester, Maryland Beaches, Somerset, and Wicomico counties, as well as Northampton and Accomack counties in Virginia. That advisory forecast sustained south winds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 to 45 mph, noting that winds would be stronger in and around individual thunderstorms. Separate severe-storm forecasts cited gusts reaching 70 to 80 mph within the most intense cells.

Unsecured outdoor objects posed a hazard throughout the storm, and high-profile vehicles faced particularly difficult driving conditions. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management's website carries preparedness guidance for residents still assessing damage in the storm's aftermath.