After Storm, Harford County Schools Closed

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A severe thunderstorm rolled through Harford County Tuesday evening, bringing down trees and knocking out power.

Nearly 30,400 BGE customers were without power in Harford County as of 7 p.m., according to the utility company.

Multiple roads were closed. Check Harford County road closures here due to trees and wires down.

Harford County Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, the school system announced Tuesday night.

“This closure will allow HCPS facilities to evaluate and address damage and power outages at schools and offices throughout the school system because of this evening’s storm,” according to a statement from Harford County Public Schools.

Traffic lights were out along MD 22 and US 40, according to the Aberdeen Police Department. When lights are out, drivers should treat intersections as four-way stops.

"There is also high water at Rt 22 and Paradise Rd & Rt 40 and Beards Hill Ext," Aberdeen Police said in a statement. "Please stay home!"

Across Harford County, 36 county roads were closed due to the storm, County Executive Barry Glassman reported before 7:30 p.m.

"Be careful driving as it gets dark," Glassman said.

A tree came down on Atwood Road, according to Bel Air Chief of Police Charles Moore, who provided an update during the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners' work session on Tuesday night at Town Hall, where lights flickered and sheets of rain blew past the windows. He said there was a "small flood" downstairs in the police department, but it was "under control."

Harford County officials asked people not to call 911 unless there was a life-threatening emergency.

"Please do not call 911 to report trees or wires down at this time unless you see sparking, arcing or fires," Harford County government officials advised after 6:30 p.m. "We need to keep lines clear for calls about life-threatening emergencies."

By 9 p.m., officials said the 911 center had resumed normal operations.

Before the storm, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning. The severe thunderstorm warning expired at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday for these areas:

• Harford County
• Cecil County
• East-central Baltimore County
• Northeastern Baltimore City

A severe thunderstorm near Cockeysville was moving east at 50 mph, officials reported before 5 p.m., based on radar. Hazards associated with the storm included 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-sized hail, authorities said.

These areas may be impacted, according to the National Weather Service: Middle River, Elkton, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Calvert, Bel Air South, Parkville, Bel Air North, Carney, Perry Hall, Rossville, White Marsh, Fallston, Bowleys Quarters, Riverside, Hampton, Kingsville, North East and Pleasant Hills.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 10 p.m.