Some of the violent winds that snapped and toppled trees in sections of Harford County Sunday afternoon were small tornadoes, the National Weather Service determined Tuesday.
Damage surveys rated the twisters at EF-0, the weakest category. There were no reports of injuries or structural damage. Surveyors also found widespread evidence of powerful straight-line winds that caused damage to trees only.
The first tornado struck at 4:07 p.m. just north of the town of Street, and traveled on the ground for 1.7 miles. It caused scattered tree damage along Street Road and Millers Road before lifting just east of Grier Nursery Road at 4:10 p.m. Top winds were estimated at 70 mph.
The second twister touched down at 4:50 p.m., near Riverside Parkway and Pulaski Highway, the weather service reported. Three dozen trees were toppled or snapped, some more than 50 feet above the ground. A resident reported seeing "a swirling gray cloud over the property, that felled trees as it moved."
The tornado lifted just after crossing Pulaski Highway after being on the ground for less than a minute. Top winds were estimated at 80 mph.
Maryland has had 22 confirmed tornadoes on four dates since April 27.