Two Tornadoes Touch Down In Howard and Frederick Counties on 5/30/19
A supercell thunderstorm spawned an EF0 tornado in eastern Frederick County near Ijamsville, roughly tracking between I-70 and I-270. The tornado had peak winds of 85mph, and was on the ground for 6.5 miles, with a peak width of 75 yards.
The first evidence of tornado damage was at the touchdown point just east of the Monocacy river, where trees were uprooted, and large branches were snapped. At the Frederick County 911 center, several trees were downed in the south parking lot and nearby areas, but no damage was noted to the building itself. The next zone of tornado damage was on Reichs Ford Road just north of Bush Creek where trees and large branches were snapped and uprooted.
The tornado continued southeast into Ijamsville, downing a few trees and large branches on Musseter Road. Trees were also uprooted on Whiskey Road near the Whiskey Creek Golf Course. The tornado then crossed Ed McClain Road near Green Valley Elementary School where several more trees were uprooted, and tree limbs were snapped. The last evidence of tornado damage was on Green Valley Road in Monrovia where several more trees were uprooted, and powerlines were snapped.
For the 2nd time in just 7 days, an EF1 touches down yet again in Howard county, striking Glenelg to Clarksville. This tornado, rated EF1, packed winds of 100mph and was on the ground for 4.8 miles with a maximum width (based on a reanalysis using satellite data) of 275 yards.
NOTE: The graphic below depicts what the official NWS survey states, the day after the tornado. A reanalysis of the storm shows a much wider path of tornadic damage, with a path width around 275 yards, and a length of around 4.8 miles, however this is not official NWS information.
The tornado touched down behind Meriwether Drive, where a few trees were uprooted. The tornado moved southeast, impacting homes along Bensworth Way, where it took significant portions of the roofs off several homes, lofting it, and carrying it down stream. Several trees were also snapped in this area. The next area of damage was noted on Roxbury Lake Drive, where several trees were snapped and uprooted behind 2 residences. Several trees were also snapped along Triadelphia Road near Howard Drive, where powerlines were also snapped. Next in line was a wooded area behind Penn Cross Court, where numerous trees were uprooted. The tornado continued through a densely forested area south of Sharp Drive, where it uprooted and snapped many trees, with most falling perpendicular to the storms path. The tornado then crossed Linthicum Road, where additional trees were snapped and power lines were downed. Several swaths of downed trees were noted along the tornado path between Linthicum Road and Ten Oaks Road.
Then, the tornado crossed Route 32, where severe tree damage was observed. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted, consistent with winds around 100mph. Additionally, a large section of roofing was torn off the Howard County Maintenance Facility, and fencing was blown down. Garage bay doors were also destroyed at the facility. Immediately behind the maintenance facility, a concentrated swath of large trees were snapped and uprooted, consistent with winds around 100mph. This concentrated area of tree damage continued on either side of Buckskin Lake Drive, where a single family home had minor roof damage. On Court G off Folly Quarter Road, several small trees were downed, with large trees being snapped and uprooted along Folly Quarter Road. Shortly before dissipating, the tornado downed additional trees along and just NW of Heritage Hill Lane.
