Thousands still reporting power outages in Montgomery County the day after thunderstorm hits area

Pepco crews staging at a 7-Eleven store
in Montgomery County this morning

Over 10,000 Pepco customers remain without power this morning in Montgomery County, but that number is down about 60,000 from the height of last evening's thunderstorm damage. The weather event, and resulting tree and power line damage, has been one of the few significant tests for Pepco since the electric utility was acquired by Exelon in 2016. Yesterday's storm appeared deceptively routine for late summer, but spawned straight line winds in areas like North Bethesda and Rockville, and had some in Northwest Washington, D.C. reporting a tornado in their community.

Southwest Bethesda neighborhoods like Springfield, Sumner, Wood Acres, Bannockburn and Spring Hill are still experiencing significant power outages. Grid resiliency issues reared their head again in the Westbard area long after skies had cleared Saturday night. Residents there who were fortunate enough to retain power after the storm last night report experiencing brownouts at 2:12 AM and 4:32 AM. The 4:32 AM brownout was an extended one, as after a split-second blackout that ravaged appliance motors, light fixtures were shimmering and flickering until all power was lost around 4:45 AM. Power was then restored around 4:48 AM. Interestingly, both brownout episodes reported seem to coincide with brand new power outages in the Westbard and Wood Acres/Searl Terrace areas, which the Pepco outage map indicates were reported at 2:15 AM (Searl Terrace) and 4:53 AM (Westbard Avenue). This morning's brownouts follow three sunny day brownouts in the Westbard area two weeks ago.

In North Bethesda, apartment building residents reported being in the dark Saturday night, and outages persist around Grosvenor, Garrett Park, Tilden Lane, Randolph Hills and the Randolph Road corridor this morning. Things aren't looking much better in the Twinbrook and Rollins Park areas of Rockville.

Aspen Hill is still smarting today with many outages. Fortunately for those without air conditioning, today's high will "only" be 85 degrees, instead of the 99 degree peak experienced last Friday. Outages also persist around Leisure World, Bel Pre Road, Wheaton, Kensington, Kemp Mill, Takoma Park, Hillandale, Colesville and Fairland. 

The storm appears to have cut a straight path across Montgomery Village, Goshen, and Laytonsville, judging from the large number of outages there. Outages remain in the Kentlands, Montgomery College-Germantown campus, Olney and Sandy Spring areas. 

Power outages across Rockville after early evening storm

About 3500 residents in Rockville and Derwood are without power this evening, after a thunderstorm passed through Montgomery County. The storm appeared to follow a northeasterly path through Potomac and Rockville. Pepco's estimated time for restoration of power is 12:00 AM July 3 for most of the outages. The utility is more optimistic about the outage near Wootton High School, where it expects power to be restored by 9:00 PM tonight.

Rockville experiences heavy lightning, some serious flooding in overnight storm

UPDATE - September 1, 2021 at 12:19 PM: Montgomery County police are now asking that any residents of the Rock Creek Woods apartments who left the complex please call them at 301-279-8000, so that they can be accounted for

11:52 AM: Officials have announced that one person has died, and a second is missing in the flooding at Rock Creek Woods apartments on Twinbrook Parkway this morning

A storm that passed through Montgomery County around 3:30 this morning had Rockville in its direct path. Residents unlucky enough to be out on the roads encountered flooding and high water, including along Rockville Pike. 

A resident of Congressional Towers reported water in his apartment as high as seats of the chairs in the room, and said he and others were rescued from the building minutes later by the Rockville Fire Department. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer said that residents of basement apartments in the 13200 block of Twinbrook Parkway had to be rescued, as well.

About 224 Pepco customers are without power right now in Rockville, particularly in the Twinbrook, King Farm and Rockshire areas.

Rare February severe storm hits Montgomery County

Damaged car on
Norbeck Road

Montgomery County is being pounded by severe storms this morning. A tornado was issued for parts of Gaithersburg and Germantown, as well as the northeast corner of the upcounty near the Howard and Carroll County borders. Flooding has been reported across the upcounty, as have fallen trees and power lines. The whole county is being hit by the unusual February summer-style storm, but the upcounty is being affected the most.

Power lines, tree down on
Darnestown Road at
White Ground Road

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services have received so many emergency calls that they are now operating under Condition Red, which means there may be longer response times, particularly for non-critical incidents. Violent weather and storm damage have also impacted parts of Poolesville, Rockville and Silver Spring, most notably in the Dawsonville, Norbeck Road and Layhill Road areas.

Route 109 is currently blocked between MD 355 and the I-270 overpass after a tree fell across the roadway. Some lanes are also blocked at Route 28 and Route 107. Trees are also reported down by MCFRS on Circle Gate Drive in Germantown.

Photos by Pete Piringer/MCFRS