STORM2K

Severe traffic problems are reported late Saturday afternoon on parts of Interstate 95 northeast of Baltimore.

A pile-up of at least 15 vehicles has closed southbound 95 north of White Marsh, according to Maryland State Police. In the northbound lanes of 95, there is a 10-car crash, before Mountain Road in Harford County. In each case, there are reports that tractor trailers have overturned. In addition, there are literally dozens of fender-benders among cars and trucks that could not stop on rain-slick 95 between the major crashes.

Medevac helicopters have taken away several injured persons from these scenes

Several other accidents have been reported likewise, including on the Baltimore beltway at Greenspring Avenue on the northwest side.

Showers and thunderstorms with hail, heavy rain, and dangerous cloud to ground lightning occurred late this afternoon. Movement of these showers and storms were generally towards the east at 40-45 mph. Sunshine combined with this rain and hail only made it worse as drivers could not see where they were going in the slick roadways. I 95 was and still is a huge mess tonite northeast of Baltimore. Best bet is avoid this area of north central Maryland this evening.

yikes

Hey, Jim!
Awful situation isn't it?

I went out on the deck to take pictures of that storm. Later when I was watching the news, I saw what had happened.

I could upload the pics if anyone would like to see them.

Hi BG. I would love to see those pictures if you have them. I took pictures likewise of both storms. The first one was the one that of course caused that huge problem on I 95. The second line of storms just added to the problem.

Some major developments tonight from north central Maryland as a 90 vehicle pileup occurred on interstate 95 in the White Marsh area. 90 vehicles were involved in this chain reaction accident. Several tractor trailers were involved in this accident. 49 people were hurt, some seriously, but none fatal at this time. At last check, one lane presumely is open in each direction on I 95 near the scene of this, which are spread out to numerous accident scenes.

Earlier today, strong to severe thunderstorms developed near Baltimore and raced east at 50 mph towards the White Marsh area. The storm was clearly visible here at my house in Essex. This storm was accompanied by hail, heavy rain, and frequent deadly lightning just north of where I was situated. It was the sunshine on the back side of this storm, which was extremely bright that ultimately caused this chain reaction of events on interstate 95 earlier today. Just to give you all an idea how far I live from this scene, I'm less than 5 miles south of the accident scenes and the storm was clearly visible here. I managed to take lightning still shots and vivid photography of the rain/hail certain as well as it tracked just north of us.

I'll show more on this storm in the near future. There was also brief vivid rainbows just before dusk this evening.

Jim, I'm about 11 miles North of where the accidents happened. What caught my attention, was the lightening, while we were moving the roof joists in the front of the house. I couldn't see the storm until I went out in the backyard.Here's the pics I got(not the greatest-they were taken with my digital). Didn't get any of the rainbow afterward.

http://www.danemist.com/oct162004storm.html

Good pics, BG ... Those bright white streaks indicate exactly where the hail shafts under the dark base of the storms ...

SF

Hi BG. I caught the same storm just across the Back River from Essex. The storm itself was close enough to get a nice vivid photography session. A brief rainbow was visible from this storm. A huge rain and hail curtain were also visible, basically to the same degree as your pictures indicated. I luckily got a lightning bolt picture beneath the cloud base and within the area where the rain and hail fell. We didn't get any rain or hail from this system here in the Essex vicinity. But given the pics you sent to me BG, It's definitely quite similar to what I saw.

I'm in the process of actually putting my storm pics on my website. I'll post the website coming up later this evening. I just got back from Prettyboy Dam in northern Baltimore County. While the entire area in general has nearly moderate foll foliage conditions, there was an area at and below the Prettyboy Dam that had virtually golden color throughout. It truly was amazing. So with that in mind, I'm planning another photo shoot Wednesday afternoon from the Prettyboy Dam as the colors continue to change in that area. That is one of my fall foliage hot spots this week. But more will follow from different areas, which I look forward to showing you.

A much better day today. Despite a bit of a fall chill, sunny cool conditions sure beats the nasty stuff from late Saturday. Take care and will share the storm and foliage pics soon.

Awesome pictures BG. Quite vivid with that rain and hail curtain.

Jim

http://community.webshots.com/album/201895556huzhPK is the site for the storms we experienced yesterday across north central Maryland. Not one storm, but two. It was the first storm that ultimately caused the huge problems on I 95 northeast of Baltimore, The squall line trailing behind the first cell only added insult to injury.

Jim

WXBUFFJIM wrote:http://community.webshots.com/album/201895556huzhPK is the site for the storms we experienced yesterday across north central Maryland. Not one storm, but two. It was the first storm that ultimately caused the huge problems on I 95 northeast of Baltimore, The squall line trailing behind the first cell only added insult to injury.

Jim

that is just scary.

Too bad I was asleep during the whole thing...

Great pictures, Jim!
I see you drove down near my neck of the woods. I missed that glorious rainbow

We only got a little rain and gusty winds with the second storm.

So what I saw was called a hail shaft, huh? I didn't have a clue as to what it was, only that it looked odd, and not like a regular storm.

Spoke to a friend who was stuck in that mess on I95. She told me that the storm came up so fast and only lasted a few minutes but visibility went to 0 instantly.

yoda wrote:Too bad I was asleep during the whole thing...

Lol Yoda. You would j/k

BaltimoreGirl wrote:Great pictures, Jim!
I see you drove down near my neck of the woods. I missed that glorious rainbow

We only got a little rain and gusty winds with the second storm.

So what I saw was called a hail shaft, huh? I didn't have a clue as to what it was, only that it looked odd, and not like a regular storm.

Spoke to a friend who was stuck in that mess on I95. She told me that the storm came up so fast and only lasted a few minutes but visibility went to 0 instantly.

With heavy rain and hail falling heavily for a brief period of time, there's no question and no surprise that visibility was reduced to near zero. That white rain and hail core looked as white as it did simply because the bright sunshine interacted with that. It was a photo worth showing the WJZ TV morning crew on their studio email this morning.

I got fall foliage pics you gotta see to believe. I'll show those to you BG and everyone shortly.

Jim

Can't wait to see them.

that was a crazy storm