Damage Survey PNS (Max: EF1) from KLWX

[akr...@iastate.edu]

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Text Permalink: IEM Website (202603131911-KLWX-NOUS41-PNSLWX)

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Max EF Rating Below: (EF1)

Count by Rating:

EF-1 ⇒ 1

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583 
NOUS41 KLWX 131911
PNSLWX
DCZ001-MDZ003>006-008-011-013-014-016>018-501>510-VAZ025>031-
036>040-050-051-053>057-501>508-526-527-WVZ050>053-055-501>506-
140715-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
311 PM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026

...NWS Damage Survey for 03/11/26 Cooksville, MD Tornado...

.Cooksville, MD Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:    90 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.4 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             03/11/2026
Start Time:             7:06 PM EDT
Start Location:         2 S Gaither / Howard County / MD
Start Lat/Lon:          39.3333 / -77.0004

End Date:               03/11/2026
End Time:               7:07 PM EDT
End Location:           2 S Gaither / Howard County / MD
End Lat/Lon:            39.3348 / -76.9933

Survey Summary:

A supercell thunderstorm moved through northern Montgomery and 
northwestern Howard Counties in Maryland during the evening hours 
of Wednesday March 11, 2026. The bow echo and associated 
downbursts/thunderstorm wind gusts caused sporadic tree damage 
from 60-80mph gusts, and created a brief EF1 tornado, with focused
tornadic damage near Cooksville in northwestern Howard County.

On March 12, staff from the National Weather Service 
Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office conducted a ground 
survey of the storm damage. The survey started near Damascus and 
extended through northwestern Howard County. There were numerous 
instances of trees uprooted or snapped, as well as damage 
resulting from downed trees. Tree fall was generally in the 
direction of the storm’s easterly movement. Ground evidence 
suggested the thunderstorm produced scattered wind damage along 
its path from 60 to 80 mph wind gusts.

However, as the storm continued east-northeastward, crossing the 
interchange of I-70 and MD-97, damage was observed 300 yards 
southwest of Old Frederick Road, crossing Old Frederick Road 
between Forsythe Road and Underwood Road. Here, along a treeline 
to the southwest of Old Frederick Road, approximately 50 trees 
were uprooted or snapped across an approximately 100 yard wide 
swath. Several of the uprooted trees fell at right angles to each 
other. Additional trees were snapped or uprooted near residences 
to the northeast of the road. About 300 yards to the northeast of 
Old Frederick Road, and tree damage from the storm reverted to 
being scattered and unidirectional. This damage is indicative of a
low-end EF1 tornado.

Additional to the ground survey, Doppler radar information from 
KLWX (Sterling VA radar) and TBWI (FAA BWI radar) was analyzed. 
Radar showed a powerful storm with broad rotation aloft along its 
path. From radar analysis coupled with ground observations, it was
determined that an EF1 tornado formed at 7:06pm and lifted at
7:07pm, with estimated winds up to 90 mph, a path length of 0.4 
miles, and a maximum width of 100 yards.

Special thanks to Howard County Office of Emergency Management 
for their assistance. Additionally, thanks to the trained 
spotters, media, and public that sent in reports of damage.

$$