Storm reports for July 29, 2023

On the afternoon of July 29, 2023, bands of storms caused considerable wind damage, mostly along the Interstate 95 corridor.¹ In Washington, D.C., a gust of 73 knots (84 mph) was measured, and thousands of trees, branches and power lines fell in northwest neighborhoods from Palisades to Dupont Circle, dozens of them onto cars, homes and businesses.¹ Several apartment buildings lost their roofs, including along Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, and homes in Wesley Heights had roof and siding damage.¹ NOAA's Storm Events Database lists $20 million in property damage in Washington.¹

In Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia, winds estimated at 70 knots (81 mph) brought down hundreds of trees, dozens in Arlington and many in Alexandria onto cars and houses, and the database lists $10 million in property damage in each.^2,3 A falling tree near Montclair in Prince William County killed one person.⁴

In Montgomery County, Maryland, winds estimated at 74 knots (85 mph) downed hundreds of trees between Rockville and North Bethesda and blew the roof fully or partly off two buildings on Rockville Pike.⁵ In Charles and St. Mary's counties, hundreds of trees fell between Waldorf and La Plata and around Charlotte Hall and Mechanicsville, many onto houses.^6,7