Based on the latest information of additional damage reports and corroborating video, the National Weather Service (NWS) has updated the track and information for the tornado that traveled across Central Montgomery County:
Overview by the NWS: “On the afternoon and evening of Wednesday June 5th, a warm front slowly lifted northeast across the eastern Panhandle of West Virginia into northern Virginia as well as central and northeastern Maryland. At the same time, low pressure tracked along the warm front causing severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to develop. At this time, the National Weather Service is confirming seven tornadoes in this report. Information is still being collected which could result in additional confirmations in the days ahead.”
Update for Central Montgomery County MD Tornado: “National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office staff conducted a ground survey of storm damage that occurred in central Montgomery County MD on the evening of Wednesday, June 5, 2024. A mini-supercell thunderstorm formed southeast of Leesburg, VA, near the Potomac River. Montgomery County Emergency Management reported multiple trees down just east of the Potomac River along Elmer School Road, River Road, and Edwards Ferry Road.
Damage surveyed was at Tudor Farm along Whites Ferry Road (MD-107). About 2 dozen pine trees with trunk diameter exceeding two feet were snapped or uprooted at this location, laying in various directions. Media reported collapse of doors to a barn on the property. From this location, the tornado lifted before dropping again in the vicinity of the 16000 block of Darnestown Road (MD-28). Here, about a dozen softwood trees were snapped and uprooted, falling in differing directions. These downed trees caused the closure of Darnestown Road for a period of time overnight.
The tornado continued on the ground for about 0.5 miles, where additional damage was observed along and near White Ground Road. Here, many pine trees were snapped, with one pine tree debarked of about half of its bark on its remaining trunk. The storm proceeded east across Seneca Creek State Park. Staff at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commissions (WSSC) Seneca Water Resource Recovery Facility witnessed the tornado moving west-to-east directly adjacent to the south of their facility where power lines leading to the facility were snapped causing the facility to switch to backup power.
After its trek south of the facility, it produced large broken branches that fell onto Great Seneca Highway (MD-119), partially blocking the roadway. The storm continued east and entered the City of Gaithersburg. The first damage surveyed was along Desellum Avenue north of Gaithersburg High School. Here, pine trees were snapped, with large limbs downed. A pair softwood trees, approximately 30 yards apart, were snapped and fell directly towards each other, evidence of a tornado.
The storm proceeded towards Old Town Gaithersburg, depositing a large limb on top of St. Martin of Tours Church at the intersection of South Summit Avenue and South Frederick Avenue (MD-355). The housing development directly east of the Gaithersburg City Hall was particularly hard-hit, with seven houses being condemned from trees and branches falling onto them. One large oak tree with a trunk of about three feet was uprooted, and fell into a house on Dogwood Drive, where five occupants were injured and transported to the hospital. Several other trees were uprooted including one in the 200 block of Rolling Road, along with numerous large branches downed.
One resident interviewed said they heard the Tornado Warning on their phone about three minutes before damage occurred near them. Once notified, their family took action to go to the basement of their home to remain safe. Video recorded the tornado moving east, north of MD 200 the Intercounty Connector near Redland. Additional tree damage was reported by Montgomery County Emergency Management and trained weather spotters between Redland and Olney. The Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department reported trees down near Sandy Spring. Additional trees were down just east of Ashton per Montgomery County Emergency Management.
This was the last area of concentrated damage in Montgomery County. The National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office acknowledges the assistance of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency management and Homeland Security, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, WSSC Water, and the City of Gaithersburg in helping conduct and provide information to this storm survey.”