Severe thunderstorms produced an extensive corridor of damaging winds across the United States on Sunday, July 5, 2026. From the Southeast and Ohio Valley through the Mid-Atlantic and into Texas, communities reported downed trees, damaged buildings, blocked roads, power outages, and widespread disruption.
While two brief EF1 tornadoes were confirmed, damaging straight-line winds were overwhelmingly the primary threat throughout the event.
A 90 MPH Macroburst Strikes Northeast Ohio
Some of the day’s most intense wind damage occurred in Mahoning County, Ohio.
A National Weather Service damage survey confirmed that a powerful macroburst produced estimated winds of up to 90 mph across portions of the county. A handheld anemometer near Poland measured a 77 mph gust, while large trees were snapped or uprooted around Boardman, Austintown, and Poland. Power lines were also brought down, and at least one large tree fell onto a home.
The survey team separately confirmed a brief EF1 tornado near Canfield, with estimated peak winds of 95 mph.
Although tornadoes often receive the greatest attention, macrobursts can produce winds comparable to those found in a tornado. Because the winds spread outward as they reach the ground, damage can extend across a much broader area.
Trees and Power Lines Fall Across the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic
Numerous communities from the Carolinas through Pennsylvania experienced significant thunderstorm wind damage.
In North Carolina, trees and power lines were reported down near East Rockingham, Laurel Hill, Vass, Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, Goldsboro, and several other communities. Along the Highway 601 corridor southeast of Concord, numerous trees were blown down, including some that fell onto homes.
Damage became especially concentrated across Virginia and Maryland during the evening. Numerous trees and power lines came down around Richmond, Hanover, Spotsylvania, Reston, Clarksville, Pasadena, and communities north of Baltimore.
Between Olney and Brookeville, Maryland, officials received at least 18 reports of tree or power-line damage. A trained spotter near Olney measured a 60 mph wind gust. Farther north near Hampstead, approximately a dozen trees were snapped or uprooted at one residence, with additional damage reported throughout the surrounding area.
In Pennsylvania, another EF1 tornado was confirmed near Lambs Gap, west-southwest of Marysville. Thunderstorm winds also brought down trees and wires across portions of Perry, Dauphin, Cumberland, Centre, Lancaster, and several other counties.
A late-night gust of 68 mph was measured near Lower Alloways Creek, New Jersey, along the Delaware Bay.
Powerful Outflow Winds Hit Texas
Texas also experienced an especially active night of damaging winds.
A 76 mph gust was measured near Impact, while a 71 mph gust was recorded northwest of Knox City. Multiple roofs were damaged in Knox City, including at least one that was reportedly blown from a building.
In Abilene, emergency management reported widespread tree and power-line damage, with approximately 21,000 customers losing electricity. Nearby communities experienced damaged metal roofs, failed transformers, fires, and toppled structures.
At Olney Municipal Airport, strong winds damaged approximately 15 aircraft and collapsed a prefabricated hangar or outbuilding. In Ranger, a one-story building reportedly collapsed on Main Street. Farther southwest, winds overturned a semi-truck and an RV trailer along Highway 163 near Sterling City.
A Predominantly Wind-Driven Severe Weather Day
Large hail accompanied some of the storms, including reports of golf ball-sized hail in portions of Texas, North Dakota, and Montana. However, the overwhelming story of July 5 was the wind. Straight-line winds can topple mature trees, damage roofs and buildings, interrupt electrical service, and make roads impassable across numerous communities within a matter of hours. They did just that during the weather events that took place across July 5, 2026.
Storm reports are based on preliminary data from the NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/
For questions about this event or other weather-related matters, please contact Cox Weather Services at kaitlin@coxweatherservices.com.