Severe thunderstorms produced a widespread assortment of damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes across portions of the United States on August 10, 2026. From Ohio and Pennsylvania into the Mid-Atlantic, numerous communities reported downed trees and power lines as storms progressed eastward. By late afternoon, one storm produced a brief EF0 tornado near Dundalk, Maryland.
Farther west, however, another severe-weather story was beginning to unfold. During the evening and overnight hours, powerful thunderstorms across portions of the northern Plains produced exceptionally large hail. This activity culminated in a 4.5-inch hailstone report east of Prairie City, South Dakota. There, vehicles, farm equipment, and homes sustained significant damage.
A Broad Corridor of Wind Damage Develops Across the East
One of the clearest themes of August 10 was the sheer geographic extent of thunderstorm wind damage.
Reports began accumulating across Ohio during the afternoon, where thunderstorms brought down trees, utility poles, and power lines across numerous communities. In Rocky River, a large tree was uprooted and a power pole snapped. Multiple large trees came down in Highland Heights, including trees that struck a vehicle and a home, while extensive tree damage was reported around Lakemore. Other reports extended through northeastern and southeastern Ohio. These reports continued as the storms progressed.
The damage corridor continued into Pennsylvania. Trees and wires were reported down around York and Lancaster, while additional damage extended through western and north-central portions of the state. Near Indian Lake in Fayette County, drone footage showed numerous trees snapped or uprooted. Meanwhile, similar reports of fallen trees and power lines continued across West Virginia.
Severe Storms Reach Virginia and Maryland
By later in the day, severe thunderstorms were producing numerous reports across Virginia and Maryland.
Virginia experienced scattered wind damage, including downed trees and power lines across portions of the Roanoke area and central and northern Virginia. A 60 mph gust was measured at Roanoke Airport, while reports from Bedford County indicated multiple trees and power lines down. Additionally, tree damage was documented around Albemarle County and elsewhere as the storms advanced eastward.
The storms also affected the Washington-Baltimore corridor. Trees were reported down in portions of Montgomery, Howard, and Baltimore counties. This included a tree that fell onto Metro Red Line tracks just south of the Shady Grove Metro Station. Multiple trees were also reported down within Baltimore itself and around Dundalk.
It was near Dundalk that the day’s eastern severe-weather episode produced one of its more notable confirmed events.
An EF0 Tornado Touches Down Near Dundalk, Maryland
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado approximately one mile west of Dundalk in Baltimore County during the late afternoon of August 10.
The tornado was on the ground from approximately 4:39 p.m. until 4:45 p.m., producing a path approximately 1.9 miles long and as much as 90 yards wide. Peak winds were estimated at 65 mph.
Although the tornado was rated at the lowest level of the Enhanced Fujita Scale, its occurrence is important when reconstructing the day’s weather. Wind damage was already widespread across the region. In addition, numerous trees were reported down around Dundalk itself. A confirmed tornado embedded within that broader severe-weather environment demonstrates why damage patterns sometimes require more detailed analysis than simply determining whether a thunderstorm occurred nearby.
In some cases, straight-line thunderstorm winds and tornadoes can affect neighboring locations during the same storm episode. Radar data, storm surveys, surface observations, photographs, eyewitness accounts, and the orientation and character of the damage can all become relevant. This information is important when determining the most likely cause of a particular loss.
Severe Hail Becomes an Increasing Threat After Dark
While damaging winds dominated many of the reports farther east, large hail became an increasingly significant part of the August 10 event farther west.
At North Judson, Indiana, a photograph with a tape measure documented hail just over two inches in diameter, approximately 2.25 inches. Large hail was also reported across portions of North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota. These reports continued as storms advanced through the evening and overnight hours.
The most extraordinary reports came from western South Dakota.
Near Prairie City in Perkins County, hail measuring 2 inches in diameter was reported along Highway 75. Less than half an hour later, approximately seven miles east of Prairie City, hail reached a reported diameter of 4.5 inches.
That is substantially larger than a baseball and approaches grapefruit size.
More important than the measurement alone was the documented damage. The report indicated significant damage to multiple vehicles, tractors, and semis, including smashed windows and substantial denting. Numerous windows were also smashed at residences in the area.
Additional large hail continued through Perkins and Meade counties. Two-inch hail was measured west-northwest of Usta. This was followed later by 2.5-inch hail west of Faith and 3-inch hail south of Faith.
For vehicles, roofing systems, siding, windows, agricultural equipment, and crops, hail of this magnitude can produce substantial losses. These losses can occur within a relatively narrow storm corridor.
A Tornado Develops Near Faith, South Dakota
At approximately 3:17 UTC, a tornado was observed about eight miles south-southwest of Faith in Meade County. The report described a tornado with full condensation to the ground and debris being lofted around its base.
Its development came within the same broader period in which very large hail was being reported around the Faith area. This observation underscores the intensity of the overnight thunderstorms across western South Dakota.
The progression from giant hail to a visually confirmed tornado also highlights the multi-hazard nature of severe thunderstorms. A storm capable of producing destructive hail may subsequently produce damaging winds or a tornado. Sometimes this can occur over relatively short distances and time periods.
Why the August 10 Event Matters in Weather Reconstruction
August 10, 2026 was not defined by a single tornado outbreak or one concentrated area of catastrophic damage. Instead, its significance came from the breadth and variety of severe weather occurring across multiple regions.
Across the Ohio Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic, the dominant story was repeated thunderstorm wind damage, with trees and power lines coming down across numerous communities. Near Dundalk, Maryland, a confirmed EF0 tornado added a localized tornadic component to the eastern event.
Farther west, the character of the severe weather was considerably different. Large hail became the principal concern, culminating in the remarkable 4.5-inch hail report near Prairie City and significant damage to vehicles, agricultural equipment, and residences. Later, a tornado near Faith reinforced the severity of the northern Plains storms.
Events such as August 10 also demonstrate why determining what happened at a specific property often requires more than looking at a regional storm map. Severe-weather impacts can vary considerably across short distances. The timing of individual storm cells, measured wind observations, hail reports, radar signatures, tornado surveys, and documented damage all contribute to reconstructing conditions at a particular location.
For insurance claims, litigation, and other weather-sensitive matters, that detailed reconstruction can help distinguish between what was possible somewhere in the region and what the available meteorological evidence indicates actually occurred at the property in question.
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