Storm wreaks havoc across the D.C. area

Beginning Wednesday, a series of severe thunderstorms accompanied by frequent lightning gave a scare for residents of the greater metropolitan area, causing extensive property damage. Thunderstorm warnings were issued across the entire state of Maryland.

As of Thursday, 50,000 Pepco customers remain without power, with approximately 28,000 Montgomery County residents still in the dark. Many downed trees litter streets and are tangled in power lines, which will slow the progress of the workers restoring the power.

The harshness of the storm required that 250 Pepco crews, including 60 from New Jersey and Deleware, work on restoring power to hospitals and other emergency facilities.

Several schools were closed as a result of storm-related power outages. 14 MCPS schools were closed Thursday due to the loss of power. A few DC schools were damaged by flooding and also cancelled classes.

Many students of Blair were negatively impacted by losses of power. Junior Tanupreet Suri could not retrieve summer assignments from her computer. "I hadn't printed out any of my homework and the lights went out," she said.

According to National Weather Service Meteorologist Howard Silverman the cold front system that caused the serious storms will return to the D.C. area over the weekend to produce scattered showers and more thunderstorms with some humid weather.

To report downed power lines call 202-872-3432.

To report a power outage call 1-877-pepco-62.

Information compiled from www.washingtonpost.com