Tornado Damages Annapolis Businesses, South River Stadium

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A tornado has caused damage in parts of Annapolis and Edgewater – including downed trees and wires, a gas leak and power outages – after touching down at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

At 2:38 p.m., the tornado was detected near Riviera Beach, according to NOAA Weather Radio. The National Weather Service also confirmed the tornado via radar, the Capital Gazette reported.

Associated Press photos showed mangled business signs, downed power poles and utility wires, and vehicles struck by debris in the Annapolis business district.

As of Wednesday evening, no injuries associated with the storm have been reported, Gov. Larry Hogan tweeted.

However, Hogan said, there are reports of "substantial damage" and trees down from Central Avenue in Edgewater to West Street in Annapolis.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, roads were closed throughout Annapolis, Edgewater and Parole.

Closures include:

• West Street between Gibraltar Avenue and Chinquapin Round Road
• Forest Drive between Old Solomons Island Road and Parole Street
• Mayo Road between Central Avenue and Shore Drive
• Mill Swamp Road west of Muddy Creek Road

Officials also asked the public to avoid unnecessary travel in the Woodland Beach and Mayo areas of Anne Arundel County, as there is "extensive storm damage" in that area, with wires and trees downed.

At least 100 Edgewater homes suffered severe damage, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department estimated when it conducted a survey of damage at around 5:30 p.m.

Currently, there are 2,500 buildings without power in Annapolis and four commercial structures with substantial damage, the Capital Gazette reported. Residents who lose power can report an outage on the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company's website here.

The Red Cross is on its way to Annapolis Gardens to assist people whose homes suffered structural damage, Lt. Kenneth White of the Annapolis Fire Marshal's Office said, as reported by the Capital Gazette.

(Do you have photos of tornado damage in the Annapolis area? Email your pictures to maryland@patch.com.)

Chuck Jeffries, an assistant volleyball coach at South River High School, told the Capital Gazette that when he arrived at the high school for a practice he didn't know had been canceled, he saw trees and power lines down and leaves everywhere.

"Once I got closer to the school, it looked like a war zone," Jeffries told the paper. In the parking lot, he said, it "looked like a tornado came right up the football field."

South River school officials will assess the field damage Thursday, Athletic Director Dave Klingel told the Capital Gazette.

Hogan tweeted that his office is working with Anne Arundel County and City of Annapolis officials to assess the damage and determine what further resources are needed.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools canceled all of their evening activities Wednesday, and the conditions prompted the Maryland State Fair to close as well.

This is a breaking news story. Refresh this page for updates.

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