Carroll County Prepares for Possible Afternoon Storms

Update 2 p.m. --  As crews clean up from this morning's storm, Carroll County is preparing for afernoon storms to impact the area. 

Cpl. Phil Kasten from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said that as of 1:20 p.m. Thursday, four roads in Carroll County are closed as crews clean up downed trees and debris from Thursday morning's storm.  

The following roads are being cleared:

• 3500 Block of Middleburg Road
• 2600 Block of Tyrone Road
• Keysville South near Middleburg
• 500 Block of McKinstrys Mill Road

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), this morning's storm produced maximum wind gusts of 37 mph, with sustained winds of 31 mph. These wind speeds were recorded between 8 and 8:20 a.m. by the NOAA NWS Weaker Station KDMW. In that time, nearly half an inch of rain was produced by the storm. 

Current weather models from the National Weather Service indicate that the some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent, according to Carroll County Emergency Management. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch are possible. 

Carroll County is under a severe thunderstorm watch through 7 p.m. and a flash flood watch through this evening, according to NWS. NWS reports that "with the ground already saturated from heavy rainfall during the past week, only an inch of rainfall in an hour could produce flash flooding of streams and low lying areas."

Here are resources to help you keep up with what is happening in Carroll County during the storm (in addition to Patch updates):

• Office of Public Safety Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/CCOPSSS
• Carroll County Government Website: http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/default.asp
• Carroll County Government Twitter: @CarrollCoMDCarroll 
• County Access Channel 24

Carroll County opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at noon today. The center will remain open for the duration of these storms, according to a news release.

If you have non-emergency information to relay, you can call 1-888-5-GET EOC. At this time, the county is not opening any storm-related shelters, but any citizens who feel unsafe in their homes are asked to go to one of the county’s five senior centers. The senior centers will remain open until further notice, according to a news release.

Send pictures and details of what you are seeing to kym.byrnes@patch.com during the storm -- WHILE STAYING SAFE -- so we can post and update your neighbors. 

Patch will continue to update on the storm throughout the day on this site as well as on Facebook and Twitter. 

-- original story --

One line of strong storms already passed through Carroll County this morning just after 8 a.m. producing hail, strong wind gusts, sheets of rain, thunder and lightning. We may not be done.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Carroll County remains under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 a.m. Weather statements from NWS said the storm that moved through Carroll County earlier was capable of producing hail up to the size of golf balls and destructive winds in excess of 70 miles per hour. 

Carroll County is also under a flash flood warning until 11:30 a.m. According to NWS, Doppler Radar indicated heavy rain capable of producing flash flooding earlier this morning. Radar estimates that up to one inch of rain has already fallen across portions of the area and additional rain amounts of up to one inch can be expected. 

NWS is reporting that there is a risk for a significant severe weather event this afternoon with the potential for widespread damaging winds as well as large hail and a few tornadoes. 

BGE) is reporting that as of 9 a.m., there were 1,615 customers in Carroll County without power. At about 9 a.m., Carroll County government posted the following Tweet: Carroll County Office Building is operating, but experiencing a power outage. Phone service is limited. BGE working on outage. 

Stay informed during the storm. Stay tuned to Patch, and here are some other important numbers and resources.

• Call 911 in emergencies. 
• Call BGE to report outages at 877.778.2222. 
• Follow the Carroll County Office of Public Safety on Facebook.

Related Articles:

• What is a Derecho?
• BGE Prepares for Forecasted Severe Weather Thursday

Patch will continue to update on the storm throughout the day on this site as well as on Facebook and Twitter.