A widespread severe weather episode unfolded across the eastern United States on July 28, 2026. It produced tornadoes, large hail and an extensive corridor of damaging thunderstorm winds from the Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic through the Carolinas and into Georgia.
Maryland experienced several confirmed tornadoes along with hail as large as 2.5 inches in diameter. Meanwhile, damaging winds brought down trees and power lines across portions of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and surrounding states. By evening, particularly damaging storms had moved through North Carolina. There, straight-line winds reached an estimated 75 mph in Catawba County and a falling tree later resulted in one fatality in Wake County.
The severe weather continued well into the night, eventually reaching northern Georgia and portions of the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Tornadoes Touch Down Across Maryland
Several tornadoes were documented across Maryland during the late afternoon and early evening.
An EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 85 mph was confirmed in the Riviera Beach area of Anne Arundel County. The tornado traveled approximately 1.1 miles and reached an estimated maximum width of 90 yards.
Nearby, an EF-1 tornado touched down in the Lake Shore area near Patapsco Road. It tracked south for approximately three-quarters of a mile. The tornado remained on the ground for about two minutes and reached an estimated maximum width of 160 yards.
Additional tornado damage was documented farther south in Talbot County near Trappe and Hambleton. Reports described convergent damage through a cornfield as well as damage near an industrial park.
The tornadoes developed amid a much broader episode of damaging thunderstorms across Maryland. Numerous reports of fallen trees and utility lines were received from communities including Hagerstown, Thurmont, Walkersville, Bel Air, Dundalk, Bowie, Silver Spring and areas surrounding Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
A measured gust of 73 mph was also recorded by a sensor near the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Large Hail Strikes the Mid-Atlantic
Large hail accompanied some of the strongest thunderstorms across Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.
One of the day’s largest hail reports came from near Mustoe in Highland County, Virginia. There, tennis-ball-size hail measuring approximately 2.5 inches in diameter was observed.
Hail reached approximately 2 inches near Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, while golf-ball-size hail was reported near Wickliffe, Virginia.
Maryland experienced its own concentration of significant hail. Golf-ball-size hail fell in portions of Baltimore and Dundalk, while an especially large hailstone was documented at Taylors Island in Dorchester County. A photograph showing the stone alongside a measuring tape indicated a diameter of approximately 2.5 inches.
These reports occurred alongside widespread damaging winds. This created the potential for multiple types of property damage within relatively small geographic areas.
Damaging Winds Spread Across Virginia and North Carolina
As thunderstorms continued southward, wind damage became increasingly widespread through Virginia and North Carolina.
Reports across Virginia described numerous fallen trees, damaged power lines and blocked roads from the western portion of the state through the Washington metropolitan region and toward the Tidewater area. Additionally, a measured 67 mph gust was recorded at Shannon Field near Fredericksburg.
In North Carolina, thunderstorms produced widespread tree and utility damage across the mountains and Piedmont.
One of the most significant areas of straight-line wind damage occurred in Catawba County. The National Weather Service reported a corridor of damaging winds beginning near Rifle Range Road, with estimated winds reaching approximately 75 mph.
Trees and power lines were also brought down across portions of Madison, Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, Iredell, Catawba and surrounding counties. Reports included trees falling onto structures and apartment buildings, along with widespread power outages.
Storm damage subsequently expanded eastward through central North Carolina, with reports around Durham, Raleigh and numerous surrounding communities.
Falling Tree Results in Fatality Near Raleigh
The July 28 storms turned deadly as damaging winds moved through Wake County.
Shortly after 9 p.m. local time, a large tree fell onto a home northeast of Raleigh near RDU International Airport. This resulted in one fatality.
Additional tree damage was reported throughout the Raleigh area, including large trees blocking roads and falling onto power lines. Multiple trees were reported down along Wynbrook Way north of Raleigh, while additional damage occurred around Durham, Rolesville and surrounding communities.
Farther east, storms continued producing power outages and tree damage across eastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks into the overnight hours.
The fatality in Wake County is a sobering reminder that thunderstorm winds do not need to reach tornado strength to become dangerous. Falling trees and large limbs can pose a serious threat to homes, vehicles and anyone caught outdoors during severe thunderstorms.
Severe Storms Reach North Georgia and Metro Atlanta
The severe-weather episode continued into Georgia during the overnight hours. It produced widespread tree damage across the northern portion of the state.
An EF-0 tornado was confirmed in northern Pickens County near Talking Rock, with estimated maximum winds between 80 and 85 mph. Damage associated with the tornado was primarily confined to trees.
Elsewhere, thunderstorms brought down trees and utility lines across portions of Habersham, Towns, Union, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Hall, Dawson, Cherokee and other northern Georgia counties.
The storms eventually progressed into portions of the Atlanta metropolitan area. A tree blocked a roadway near Roswell, while more substantial damage was reported near Kennesaw. There, multiple trees were brought down and a home sustained damage that included a damaged chimney and deck and broken windows.
Additional property damage was reported in DeKalb County, including a home significantly damaged by multiple fallen trees. Tree damage was also reported near Stone Mountain and later in Jonesboro in Clayton County.
For the Atlanta region and north Georgia, the event provides another example of how summertime thunderstorms can produce locally significant wind damage. This occurs well beyond areas experiencing confirmed tornadoes.
A Broad Severe Weather Episode Across the Eastern United States
Unlike a severe-weather event dominated by one concentrated tornado outbreak or a single intense storm complex, July 28 was notable for the geographic extent of its impacts.
From Pennsylvania and New York through Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia, reports repeatedly documented trees falling onto roadways, vehicles, power lines and structures. Additionally, tornadoes and large hail added additional hazards in portions of the Mid-Atlantic, while damaging winds became particularly widespread farther south.
For forensic meteorological investigations, events like July 28 can present an important challenge. A property may have experienced hail, straight-line wind, tornado-related winds or a combination of hazards within a relatively short period of time. Determining what occurred at an individual location often requires analysis beyond the broader storm-report record. This includes radar data, surface observations, warning information and post-storm damage surveys.
All storm reports referenced in this article are preliminary and are provided by the NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC). Final storm data may be updated as additional information and damage surveys become available.
For questions about this article, please contact kaitlin@coxweatherservices.com