some of the worst was at berryman's lane and church mills road. coach road and berryman's road was blocked for several hours. people who saw it said it was terrifying to watch. >> a combination of a roar and a thunderral at the same time. there was the thunder and leeting in and the -- lightning and the roar of the wind. >> the national weather service is attributing this to straightline winds although many folks said they thought they saw a funnel cloud. >>> we checked with bge, more than 7,000 remain without power. 5600 are in baltimore county. >>> this phone and through this evening we'll she very heavy shower activity. but on maryland's shore and down into virginia, look at that figure. 5,325 lightning strikes, lightning strikes just within the past two hours. i mean, it is really rolling over there on the eastern shore just south of ocean city they had pretty heavy thundershower activity. early this afternoon they have a break. they have more heading in their direction. baltimore no precipitation and it should stay that way for the next 36 hou

the hardest hit was around berryman's lane and church mills. we have the latest. >> reporter: it's difficult to get around this patch work of neighborhood. trees are down everywhere, large and small branches, that have pulled down power lines. >> i didn't hear the tree. i didn't hear any of the branches fall. >> reporter: overall, the johnsons consider themselves lucky. the tree just fell over and knocked shingles off the roof. the rain came down so hard it was sideways. >> it was the scariest thing i've ever seen in my life. i was walking threw the house and happened to walk by the front door and they were shaking. >> reporter: trees and power lines are down from liberty road on the west to the east, although it hasn't been officially determined what came through this area, many folks are saying they saw a tornado. trees were twisted off at the tops and branches and leaves were scattered. power loons were knocked down. people from different parts of the area say it couldn't have been just a thunderstorm. >> it was hail both against the front d

it knocked down a lot of trees, power lines down, and just general weather-related damage from berryman's lane through church plane through nicodemus road. >> it just got dark, the rain started pouring down, you could not hear anything. you could hear just the sound of pouring down rain. >> i was a little bit scared and we heard a lot of thunder and hail. >> residents were pummeled by the elements and have the damage to prove it. massive trees are bent and broken lightweights and wires suspended beyond belief. workers had to go door-to-door and they had to make a quick move for cover. >> we saw all of the leaves starting to swirl and we went to the bathroom. >> for others like the green family, the storm outside became a very unwelcome guest inside. >> eirich a loud snapping noise and it was -- i heard a loud snapping noise and it was just a swish going around our house. >>ç this tree toppled onto the house, toppling the roof. >> it was really frightening. >> what caused all of the damage? the residents we said -- we spoke to all said the same thing. >> a tornado. >> it was a tornadoish. >> w

and downed trees in reisterstown, nicodimas road and berryman lane. 83 pretty much a smooth ride from the pennsylvania state line to the beltway. no problems to report on the east side of the outer loop, 95 southbound looking good down through harford county, through to about 695/895 split. no problems to let you know about here at the tunnels, 895 and the fort mchenry tunnel toll plaza are looking good at this time. a quick look at the cameras, this is going to be 695 at the bw parkway. ing see there's -- you can see there's hardly anybody out there. it looks good at this hour. back to you. >>> 5:31. it's reckless and this morning, that could be the reason a cab driver is dead, from drag racing. sherrie johnson picks up that story. >> reporter: everyday thousands of people travel on northern parkway and what is so disturbing, this could have happened to anyone. the crash happened about 11:00 last night at the intersection of northern parkway and woodcrest. near pimlico racetrack. witnesses say several cars were racing down the street when they slammed into a cab driver who was trying

and reisterstown, nicodimas road and berrymans lane.ockeysville, cranbrook road at york road. downed trees and power lines in the area. definitely use caution. at the outer loop, no problems to let you know about, the beltway looks good at this time. back to you. >>> 5:20. today, sarah palin now known as the former governor of alaska. in a fiery speech yesterday she said she's stepping down to take her political battles to a larger if unspecified stage. palin has not said what her future plans are but the former presidential candidate is widely considered a potential candidate for presidency in 2012. that is the former vice presidential candidate. >>> rescue crews in cincinnati say a gas leak ignited an explosion from a two-story home. it crashed down on itself. the blew out windows. there are no reports of injuries. >>> at the water in washington state. a hydroplane racing boat flips over during a race coming to rest with the canopy waterside down. it happened during the columbia cup race for unlimited hydroplanes. gene michael kelly w