A Tornado touched down in Poolesville, Maryland

WASHINGTON — The National Weather Service reported a tornado Saturday in Montgomery County, Maryland. 

The tornado was short-lived, only lasting a minute, but still caused damage. It happened in Poolsville, Maryland, a suburb of Montgomery County. The twister was on the ground between 1:58 p.m. and 1:59 p.m. It was ranked as an EF-0 tornado with 75-mile-per-hour winds. 

The tornado’s path was 100 yards long and 25 yards wide. But in its short period, a few trees were uprooted and large tree branches were broken. No injuries were reported.   

The tornado came as severe storms broke out across the DMV. Culpeper County, Virginia, was also included in a tornado warning at around 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, but a tornado was not confirmed.

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground. It stretches from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground.  

A Tornado Watch means that tornadoes are possible.  A Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been spotted or indicated on radar. Immediate action should be taken to save lives. 

What should I do if a tornado is in my area?

If a tornado warning is ever issued for your area… the best thing to do is go to the most interior part of your home at the lowest level. It’s best to stay away from windows. Safer places may include an interior hall, closet, or basement. 

It may even be helpful to shield yourself with a mattress or even a motorcycle helmet to provide a barrier between you and any debris that is flying around. 

The National Weather Service suggests that if you are in a mobile home, vehicle, or outside, the agency asks for you to move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying objects.