UPDATE: Tornado Reported in Laurel Area; Modest Power Outages Seen

Update, 5:13 p.m.:

Additional power outage reports are trickling in from BG&E. About 150 customers are without power in Maryland City, according to the utility.

That's on top of roughly 60 customers without power in North Laurel, 30 in South Laurel, and a few sporadic outages elsewhere.

Update, 4:55 p.m.

Laurel spokesman Pete Piringer, speaking on ABC Channel 7 moments ago, said that the city appeared to have escaped the storm relatively unscathed.

"Right now we're assessing the situation, but as far as the City of Laurel, I think we got out of it pretty good," Piringer said.

No reports of injuries or major damage in the city limits have been received, Piringer said, though one tree fell on a house at Parkway Drive & Windham Road in West Laurel (image at right).

The Laurel Department of Public Works is out clearing branches and debris from roadways. Some branches have fallen on Cherry Lane, Piringer added.

Update, 4:38 p.m.:

Meteorologists report that a tornado formed in the vicinity of Laurel and Columbia around 4 p.m. Thursday as a band of powerful storms moved through the area.

The tornado warning that was in effect for northern Prince George's County has since been canceled as the storms have moved off to the east.

Several Twitter users posted photos appearing to show a funnel-shaped cloud in the Laurel area, though it was not immediately known whether the images portray an actual tornado.

Laurel Mayor Craig Moe tweeted the photo at right of a tree that fell on a house in West Laurel during the storms. No injuries were reported, according to Prince George's County Fire Department spokesman Marc Brady.

BG&E is reporting minimal power outages so far in the Laurel area. At last check, 59 customers were without power in North Laurel, 30 more in South Laurel, and several others elsewhere.

Original article:

Laurel officials are bracing for heavy rains and possible flooding from a band of severe storms set to move through the region Thursday.

Though the approaching system hadn't dropped much rain by early Thursday morning, the Patuxent River was already at above normal stage.

According to city officials, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has opened a third gate at the T. Howard Duckett Dam in anticipation of increased flow. As of 2 a.m., the river's level just north of Laurel was at approximately 8 feet—about a foot and a half shy of flood stage (9.5 feet).

Once again, the threat of flooding prompted the city to shut down the commuter lot at the Laurel MARC station near American Legion Post 60. The closure went into effect Wednesday evening and may last through Friday, depending on water levels. Commuters are urged to make alternate parking arrangements.

The same lot flooded in January after heavy rains prompted a major release of water from the dam.

A flash flood watch is currently in effect for the region. Forecasters could cause damage similar to that of last summer's derecho. The system may also bring tornadoes.

According to the National Weather Service, showers and thunderstorms are likely to arrive in several waves during the daylight hours.

"With the ground already saturated from last week’s heavy rains, these rainfall totals could produce flash flooding of streams and low lying areas," city officials said in a statement.

Laurel Mayor Craig Moe and Emergency Operations Director Martin Flemion are monitoring the storm and will post information through the city's Facebook page and Twitter feed, according to the statement.

Officials also issued the following tips:

• Residents are encouraged to prepare for power outages by keeping the following items on hand: flashlights (not candles), fresh batteries, battery-operated clock radio, corded telephone, fully charged cell phone, non-perishable foods, and blankets
• If any of the storms bring high winds, residents are asked to please bring in any loose items like deck furniture, umbrellas, etc. from around their home. 
• Residents should also consider filling the fuel tanks of their vehicles in the event a power outage affects service to neighborhood gas stations.  
• For any residents who rely on well water, filling a bathtub with water in advance of severe weather is strongly encouraged. 
• No matter how you stock pile extra water, make sure you have 3 days of water on hand. FEMA recommends a minimum of 3 gallons of water per person per day.
• Check in on your neighbors who are elderly or physically challenged and make sure that they are well. 
• Residents using generators should follow the manufacturers’ instructions and be sure to locate generators in well-ventilated areas.           
• Additionally, residents with special needs and are dependent on electricity for medical equipment, should have alternate arrangements in place should they experience an extended power outage.  
• If any residents come across downed power lines please avoid them and report them immediately to your electric carrier.
• If an emergency does arise, please call the Laurel Police at 301-725-3000. If you should lose power, please call Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E) at 877-778-2222 or visit the BG&E outage map.