Storms Knock Out Power, Bring One of Wettest Weeks in 8 Months

Storms and showers brought more than half an inch of rain to much of the Washington area yesterday, toppling trees, knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses, and making the week one of the area's wettest in months.

Hundreds of commuters on MARC's Brunswick Line were delayed by as much as two hours yesterday evening after a massive oak tree fell onto tracks near Washington Grove, rail line officials said.

High water closed part of Brookeville Road north of Olney, and many car accidents were reported in Montgomery County, officials said.

Airline traffic was delayed.

Almost 20,000 homes and businesses in the region lost power for at least part of the day. Among them were about 7,800 BGE customers in Anne Arundel County, 3,000 customers of the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative in St. Mary's County and 2,000 Pepco customers in Montgomery County, according to utility company figures.

Rain fell early yesterday morning, and heavier downpours arrived in the late afternoon and evening. At Reagan National Airport, the day's total of more than three-quarters of an inch brought the total since Sunday to more than 2.5 inches.

That was the second-highest total at the airport in any similar period since early September, when 3.5 inches fell in a day. Earlier this wet month, 3.21 inches fell in six days.

In some spots, wind and hail accompanied thunder and lightning.

Hailstones were "pinging on the windows" and "bouncing all over the driveway and all over the deck," said Julie Burgess of the La Plata area of Charles County.