severe wx in Maryland, my observations on 5-25-04

[WXBUFFJIM]

We had 40 mph gusts and torrential rains not to mention very frequent CG strikes at close range here in eastern Baltimore County. Numerous outages occurred here due to blown transformers from CG lightning. There were even mutliple CG strikes at the same time with this. A very dangerous situation with lightning. I happened to get a very close CG on video as well showing the CG hitting just behind the Franklin Square Hospital where I was shooting video and still pictures at the time.

As the line of storms approached, I noticed a shelf cloud on the leading edge of this storm with a greenish sky beneath the cloud base suggesting lots of rain and hail mixed in with the deadly and excessive CG lightning.

Definitely one of the truly more wild storms of the year so far and it's not over just yet. A Slight risk of severe wx is in place again this Wednesday afternoon and evening with the cold front. The storms that occurred on Tuesday was caused by a mid level disturbance with a warm front moving through at the same time. We got one ore severe wx day to go here on Wednesday before things become a bit more traquil in the weather dept Thursday-Saturday for the Mid Atlantic region.

Jim