Abdelrahman
On Sunday, powerful wind gusts caused significant damage across the Baltimore area, toppling trees and power lines, leading to widespread outages.
A high-wind warning remains in effect for most of Maryland until 10 p.m. on Sunday, with gusts anticipated to reach up to 60 mph in certain regions.
Power Outages in the BGE Service Area
As reported by Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), over 118,000 customers were without electricity across Maryland by 6 p.m. on Sunday, according to their outage map.
The hardest-hit area is Baltimore County, where nearly 34,000 residents are affected. In addition, about 24,000 customers in Anne Arundel County are experiencing outages, along with nearly 10,000 in Carroll County, roughly 15,000 in Baltimore City, close to 9,000 in Harford County, and over 16,000 in Howard County.
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BGE issued a statement indicating that the strong winds have caused extensive damage to electrical infrastructure across its service area, including downed lines, broken poles, and fallen trees and branches.
To facilitate power restoration efforts, BGE has increased staffing levels. However, they note that debris removal is necessary before any damaged equipment can be repaired.
Currently, BGE has not provided an estimated time for power restoration.
“Restoring power is a labor-intensive and time-consuming task, which can delay certain outages,” BGE explained. “The safety of our employees, contractors, and customers is our top priority. For example, repairs requiring bucket trucks cannot be executed safely during high winds, so restoration will commence as soon as conditions permit.”
In Baltimore, a tree fell in the 3600 block of Wabash Avenue, completely obstructing the road.
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A local resident commented, “This morning’s weather forecast warned of 50 mph winds, but you don’t expect something like this to happen right outside your door. I’m just grateful it didn’t hit my house.”
In another incident, a tree fell onto a house on Rockwood Avenue in Baltimore.
Closure of the Bay Bridge
Due to the severe wind warnings, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge has been closed in both directions, as confirmed by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Authorities have not yet provided a timeline for when the bridge will reopen.
