It has been a grim spring for tornadoes in the U.S. April had the second-highest number of tornadoes for that month on record in the country. While tornadoes are not unheard of in Maryland, they are relatively rare — especially outbreaks of the volume seen Wednesday night.

Peak bloom of the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, happened on March 17, ahead of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Ellicott City was devastated by heavy rain Sunday, just two years after the historic city in Howard County was forced to recover from another flash flood.

Six inches of rain fell in a three hour period.