Storms Bring Break in Heat Wave

20-Degree Dip In Temps as Some Lose Power

Temperatures plummeted in the Washington region last night as crackling thunderstorms pushed through, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses, but also bringing an end to four days of sweat and swelter.

The mercury plunged more than 20 degrees in less than two hours in several spots, banishing Washington's first heat wave of the year, a period of protracted discomfort during which temperatures topped 95 degrees every day since Saturday.

As the storms swept across the region last night, winds gusted as high as 66 mph, hailstones the size of quarters rattled on roofs, trees toppled and power lines fell from Prince William and Fauquier counties in Virginia, along a northeasterly track to Baltimore and Carroll counties in Maryland.

From Winchester to Washington and to points north and east, lightning flashed and lights flickered. By 10 p.m., about 80,000 homes and businesses across the region had lost electricity, according to figures provided by three major utility companies.

Although temperatures were expected to rise today above the lows they reached last night, they were expected to remain confined to the 80s in most places, well below the figures of the past four days. In addition, the humidity was also expected to remain in a comfortable or at least tolerable range, in contrast to the period that ended yesterday afternoon and evening.

"The difference is going to be the amount of moisture in the air," said Andy Woodcock of the National Weather Service office in Sterling. "It's going to feel quite comfortable."

In many respects, the power of last night's storms served as a reflection of the discomfort that characterized the past four days; the energy bound up in the 90-plus degree temperatures was converted into lightning, wind gusts and the production of hail.

Among the places where temperature fell farthest and fastest was Leesburg, where the mercury fell 25 degrees, from 100 at 4:20 p.m. to a far more benign 75 degrees at 6 p.m. In Winchester, the mercury dropped 21 degrees in 40 minutes, from 91 at 3:20 p.m. to 70 at 4 p.m., according to weather service figures.

Fallen trees were reported in dozens of places: atop a house on Webster Street NW in the District, near the key D.C. intersection of 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW, and near the Fairfax County crossroads of Interstate 66 and Route 123.

In addition, according to reports received by the weather service, trees came to rest on a power line in Greenbelt, on Piccadilly Street in Winchester and on houses in the Timonium area of Baltimore County.

In Loudoun County, officials reported marble-size hail, lightning, heavy rain and wind in Purcellville just after 5 p.m.

"The lights are out in my neck of the woods," said Purcellville Mayor Robert W. Lazaro Jr., who said the power had gone out at his home in the Locust Grove subdivision. "A good portion of the town is out."