Fierce thunderstorm shuts down Connecticut Avenue, topples trees in Chevy Chase

BETHESDA, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - A powerful thunderstorm swept through Chevy Chase, Maryland, Wednesday evening, causing significant damage and shutting down Connecticut Avenue in both directions.

On the 2600 block of Blaine Drive, heavy winds toppled a tree onto a brick house, causing thousands of dollars in damage and bringing down power lines. 

The homeowner, who has lived in the family home with her sister for 62 years, described the frightening moment they rushed outside after hearing a loud boom.

Wind gusts also felled a tree on Underwood Street, pulling down power lines, snapping a pole like a toothpick, and leaving a light dangling above the sidewalk in the Village of Chevy Chase. 

The storm caused Connecticut Avenue to close in both directions, halting Metro buses and prompting police to direct traffic away from the area.

PEPCO and a tree removal company are currently working to clear the debris and restore power. Residents described the storm as fierce but brief.

"It was a sudden amount of large rain and wind, not coming quite horizontally, pretty much a 45-degree angle, and it didn’t last very long. It was only about 10 to 15 minutes," said Timothy Holtz, a Chevy Chase resident.

Despite the brief duration, the storm caused extensive damage in parts of Chevy Chase. 

On the 3700 block of Thornapple Street, a tree broke in half and landed on a front lawn, damaging the roof of a home. The homeowner was too upset to speak on camera.

The two sisters on Blaine Drive have been told by an architect that their home is now unsafe to live in. Several residents expressed relief and gratitude that no one was injured during the storm.

Some homes remain without power, but PEPCO has assured homeowners that electricity will be restored after midnight.

Both directions of Connecticut Avenue at Underwood Street have since reopened.