STORM CAUSES POWER OUTAGES IN BETHESDA

Cancelling tonight's outdoor movie at Bethesda Row turned out to be the right call. A couple of thunderstorms passed through Bethesda early this evening, and have left several small power outages behind.

Neighborhoods in the dark include one near Bradley Boulevard and Wilson Lane (Pepco estimates restoration by 5:00 AM tomorrow morning), Wildwood Hills near Democracy Boulevard (11:00 AM Wednesday), and Seven Locks Road near Tuckerman Lane (1:00 PM Wednesday).

The largest outage, near Garrett Park, appears to have been restored according to the Pepco outage map.

BETHESDA POWER OUTAGE UPDATE

A storm tonight has knocked out power to about 27 Pepco customers in Bethesda. The outages are primarily in the Luxmanor area, off Old Georgetown Road.

The largest outage is in the vicinity of Roseland Drive, and Pepco currently expects to restore power there by 6:00 AM Monday morning. A handful of customers around Tilden Lane will have to wait longer, until 2:00 PM on Monday, according to Pepco's current estimate.

BETHESDA POWER OUTAGE UPDATE

About 45 Pepco customers are currently without power in Bethesda, a vast improvement over the thousands who were in the dark after yesterday's storm. Today's outages are primarily in the Brookmont area, and in the area around Wilson Lane and Bradley Boulevard. Pepco is forecasting restoration of power to those residents by 12:30 AM.

BETHESDA STORM DAMAGE PHOTOS + POWER OUTAGE UPDATE

Limb down in downtown Bethesda

Power outages and many fallen tree limbs are the primary evidence of the violent storm that hit Bethesda late this afternoon. One woman was struck by lightning at Old Georgetown Road and Democracy Boulevard. Her injuries were considered non-life-threatening, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer.

Thousands are without power in Bethesda; the hardest hit areas are along the River Road/Massachusetts Avenue corridors, and North Bethesda. Multiple traffic signals along River Road were dark this evening. Pepco's outage site is not giving estimated times for power restoration for any of these outages.

Here are some photos of the aftermath; there may be more photos (not to mention more storms) to come tonight, and tomorrow.

Tree limb meets car

Dark traffic signals at River Road
and Ridgefield Road

Tree limb blocks northbound lanes
of Arlington Road just south
of Bradley Boulevard

Storm-tossed fencing and construction
equipment at the 7770 Norfolk
luxury apartment tower construction
site

Bethesda Urban Partnership
cart got knocked aside in
Veterans Park