The Code Red extreme heat alert was issued by the Baltimore City Health Department in preparation for the high-90s temperatures forecast at the beginning of the workweek. The department urged locals to reduce outside activities and stay in air-conditioned locations.

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The Health Department also recommends people in the city drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and caffeine, make sure to not leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles, and check on older adults or sick neighbors who might need help responding to the heat.

Monday is expected to reach a high of 95 with sunny and clear conditions. It will likely cool down to a low around 75.

Tuesday’s high is projected to reach 97 degrees with a heat index of 101 in another sunny, clear day with light wind. The heat index is a measure of how hot the air feels to the body.

Wednesday is not included in the heat advisory but will likely also see a high of 97. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day, bumping up to 40% in the evening as temperatures cool down to 75.

Thunderstorms are likely on Thursday, with an 80% chance of precipitation and a high near 87, breaking from the extreme heat.

Friday is predicted to be mostly cloudy with a high of 79 and a low of 64, as well as a chance of showers during the day.

In 2024, there were 27 heat-related deaths across the state, according to reports from the state Department of Health. By late July last year, 11 people had died.

During Maryland’s heat season, which the department defines as May through September, there have already been 1,008 EMS calls and 1,129 emergency department or urgent care visits related to heat-related illness in 2025.

Despite two more months of heat season, Maryland is close to meeting last year’s total number of emergency department or urgent care visits due to heat, which was 1,206 in 2024.

“Heat illness is certainly an under-recognized, under-appreciated threat, and it can have real consequences,” said David Gatz, the associate medical director of the Adult Emergency Department at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

What is heat illness?

Children, seniors and people with chronic illnesses are most susceptible to heat illness, Gatz said, but anyone can be at risk if put in high-heat environments.

The lowest level of heat illness is heat exhaustion, which occurs when water and salt are depleted, typically from being outside and sweating. This can make people feel that they’re going to pass out, their heart is beating faster or they feel nauseous, according to Cheyenne Falat, the assistant medical director of the Adult Emergency Department at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

At this stage, Falat said, getting hydrated, moving away from the heat and cooling the body can usually be enough to prevent serious illness.

Moderate heat illness can include heat rash, swelling — typically in the legs — and heat cramps and brief fainting, Falat said.

The most severe level of heat illness is heat stroke, which impacts the neurological system. Falat said looking out for any changes like slurred speech, difficulties with fine motor skills, and being unsteady could be signs to head to see a medical professional as soon as possible.

“The earlier you can recognize it and intervene, the more you can prevent it from transitioning to that next stage,” Falat said.

Recognizing when heat illness is severe enough to warrant a trip to the hospital is challenging, however, Gatz said, but the most important step is listening to your body. To prevent heat illness, Falat and Gatz recommend attempting not to over-exert, applying sunscreen, hydrating and limiting time exposed to extreme temperatures.

Heat in the workplace

Heat illness and heat-related deaths in Maryland have become top-of-mind for employers due to a new law requiring workplaces with high heat indexes to educate their employees on heat illness as well as provide water and frequent breaks.

The 2024 death of Baltimore City Department of Public Works trash collector Ronald Silver also ignited conversations in the region about monitoring the health of people working during high heat indexes.

The Maryland Department of Labor has not received any notifications of heat-related deaths at workplaces this year, a spokesperson for the department told The Sun. Maryland Occupational Safety and Health, part of the state labor department, has received reports of heat-related concerns that are being investigated, the spokesperson said, but did not specify the number of complaints.

AFSCME Maryland Council 3 — a union representing state, municipal and county employees in Maryland, of which Silver was a member — has also not heard any reports of heat-related deaths at workplaces in the state. Still, leaders do have concerns over a lack of heat safety plans from some of their employers, according to a union spokesperson. The plans are required under the heat safety standards, which became law in September 2024.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com.

The Baltimore City Health Department issued a Code Red extreme heat alert through Tuesday as the heat wave “poses significant health risks to the public.” The department urged people working outdoors, older adults, young children, people with chronic health challenges and those with pets to take caution.

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The chance of rain and thunderstorms returns Saturday, with a 30% possibility of showers and storms after  4 p.m. Otherwise, it should be mostly sunny with a high near 92 and a low around 75.

On Sunday, there’s a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with skies mostly cloudy and a high near 91 and a low around 76.

Mostly sunny conditions are expected to return Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs in the low to mid-90s and lows in the 70s. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the hottest with highs of 96.

In response to the alert, the city said it will activate cooling centers throughout the area, offering air conditioning, cold water, and in some cases, Wi-Fi to Baltimoreans looking for an escape from the heat.

“Whether it’s checking in on neighbors, staying indoors during the hottest part of the day, or using our cooling centers, we all play a part in helping everyone remain as safe as possible,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said Wednesday.

Alongside the alert, the city health department also urged residents to drink plenty of water and cautioned against going outside between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

In its most recent report on heat-related illness released Wednesday, the Maryland Department of Health reported that 12 people have died across the state so far this season due to heat-related illnesses, including two in Baltimore City.

Have a news tip? Contact Mathew Schumer at mschumer@baltsun.com, 443-890-7423 and on X as @mmmschumer.

The tornado first touched down near the Breton Bay Community Dock around 7:45 p.m., about 3 miles southwest of Leonardtown, NWS weather experts said. The storm uprooted two pine trees before continuing northeast along Lake Drive, Breton View Drive and Breton View Court.

Along this path, numerous trees were snapped, topped or severely damaged, including a sycamore tree 3 feet in diameter that was uprooted in winds estimated at 90 mph, according to the NWS. Minor roof damage was reported to at least one residence, with shingles ripped from the roof decking.

As the tornado moved along the shoreline, it briefly became a waterspout over the coves of Breton Bay before returning to land near Paw Paw Point. The twister flipped several boats from their docks. This damage led meteorologists to estimate the tornado’s peak winds at 100 mph.

Video footage of the waterspout and photos of the destruction at Paw Paw Point were reviewed and verified by the NWS. No injuries were reported.

The tornado, classified as EF1, which means winds between 86 and 110 mph, lifted shortly after striking the point. A storm survey at Mulberry Point, northeast of the tornado’s path, found no further damage.

After the tornado dissipated just west of Maryland Route 5, radar indicated that the system evolved into a rear flank downdraft, producing straight-line wind damage in areas east of the highway. Scattered damage was reported from the Patuxent River to areas near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, according to the NWS.

St. Mary’s County has had 33 confirmed tornadoes since 1950, according to Tornado Path, which provides tornado warning information for communities across the United States.

“Tornadoes have occurred in St. Mary’s County in the past and can be expected to occur again in the future,” county government officials said in a statement. “Tornadoes often result in buildings with missing roofs, uprooted road signs, fallen powerlines and trees, destroyed homes and water towers, and damaged cars.”

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.

Taking place at Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point, the sold-out event is intended to display a “swimmable, fishable” harbor after a decade-plus-long cleanup effort, according to a Monday news release from the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, the nonprofit that is organizing it.

Harbor Splash was initially scheduled for June 21, but intense rainfall impacted the water quality and postponed the event.

The Waterfront Partnership has constantly monitored the water and found it meets Maryland’s standard for swimming when it hasn’t rained within 48 hours, the organization said. This is consistent with Maryland Department of the Environment’s recommendation not to swim in open waters within 48 hours of rain, according to the release.

There’s a chance of rain every day this week leading up to Saturday’s swim, and Sunday saw flooding, according to the National Weather Service. There’s a 30% chance of rain Saturday, as of Monday afternoon.

The Waterfront Partnership has not announced a backup plan and did not immediately provide a comment.

The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with a short program and ceremonial jump. The 200 swimmers, aged 18 or older, are set to then leap into the harbor in timed sessions every 20 minutes. The water will be monitored by Ultimate Watersports, a water event management company.

Last year’s inaugural Harbor Splash saw about 150 people jump into the water.

The Waterfront Partnership launched the Healthy Harbor Initiative in 2010 for the “litter-strewn and polluted waterway,” according to the release. “The water in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor can now, with routine water monitoring, be managed as a recreational resource,” the release reads.

The harbor was impacted by an oil spill and a sewage leak last month. In early June, over 5,000 gallons of oil used to fuel Johns Hopkins health care facilities spilled into the water. Later that month, a complaint reviewed by The Baltimore Sun pointed to raw human waste leaking into the Inner Harbor.

The Waterfront Partnership discourages swimming from the promenade outside scheduled events due to lack of professional supervision, boat traffic and sediment pollution.

Have a news tip? Contact Brendan Nordstrom at bnordstrom@baltsun.com or on X at @bnords03.

Temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler than during the weekend, with a high near 86 degrees projected Monday at BWI Marshall Airport.

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Temperatures Monday night are expected to drop to a low around 65.

The warm, dry pattern continues into midweek. Tuesday is forecast to be sunny with a high near 83, and Tuesday night will likely be mostly clear with a low around 68. Wednesday should be mostly sunny and warmer, with a high near 86, followed by a partly cloudy night and a low near 69.

Temperatures are expected to reach the 90s again on Thursday amid a sunny day with a heat index — a measure of how hot the body feels — of 93 degrees. Clear skies are anticipated Thursday night with a low near 73.

According to the National Weather Service, the flooding caused Hammonds Ferry Road and Furnace Avenue in Elkridge to be temporarily closed. Howard County Government advised residents to turn around if they see a flooded roadway, especially. low-lying and flood-prone roads.

In a social media post, Howard officials said Main Street in Ellicott City had reopened after the area received 3 inches of rain in about three hours.

There were also reports of flooding and standing water on I-695 in Baltimore County near Woodlawn on Sunday afternoon.

The weather service predicts that parts of Maryland remain at risk for excessive rainfall and the potential for flash floods.

NWS said the rainfall will continue into the early morning hours of Monday with slow-moving storms capable of producing very heavy rainfall.

A flood watch is in effect for Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Washington, Frederick, Cecil, Prince George’s, Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties until midnight Tuesday, according to the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. That extends to 2 a.m. for Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties.

Have a news tip? Contact Chevall Pryce at cpryce@baltsun.com or 443-862-9043.

The start of the Orioles’ game against the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon has been delayed because of rain. The Orioles originally said the game, originally scheduled for 1:35 p.m., would begin at 1:50 p.m., but they later rescinded that and said the contest would be delayed until 3:10 p.m.

The Maryland Department of Emergency Management issued a flood warning for Baltimore and Howard counties and Baltimore City until 4:15 p.m. Sunday. A flood warning indicates that flooding conditions are either occurring or are imminent for the warning area.

Sunday’s game is the Orioles’ last of the first half before the four-day All-Star break. The only Oriole who won’t get a break is Ryan O’Hearn, who will start at designated hitter for the American League in the All-Star Game.

The Orioles won Friday’s series opener but lost, 6-0, on Saturday when the bullpen and bats wasted Trevor Rogers’ revenge gem. Baltimore fans gave Rogers a loud standing ovation as he walked off the mound after 6 2/3 masterful innings against his former team, which traded him last season in return for outfielder Kyle Stowers and infielder Connor Norby.

“That meant the world to me, having that ovation with the fans,” he said. “It really meant a lot. They love their baseball here. The fact that I could give ’em that performance in front of them, in front of this unbelievable crowd — it meant the world to me.”

A win Sunday would give Baltimore (43-51) its third straight series victory to end the first half. The Orioles were 15-28 before firing manager Brandon Hyde but have since gone 28-23 under interim manager Tony Mansolino. Since the Trevor Rogers Game in Boston in late May, the Orioles have been one of the majors’ best teams with a 27-17 record.

If they can continue playing at that pace, Baltimore might have a chance to make the postseason, though the July 31 trade deadline is looming. General manager Mike Elias signaled Thursday that a deadline sale could be on its way after he traded reliever Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays for the No. 37 overall pick in the 2025 MLB draft.

The delay could cause a busy evening for the Orioles. It’s possible the Orioles-Marlins game ends shortly before Baltimore is set to pick at No. 19 overall in the first round, around 7:40 p.m. The Orioles have the most Day 1 picks in the majors with seven of the first 93 selections.

Rookie Brandon Young (0-3, 6.14 ERA) will pitch opposite Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez (2-2, 4.00 ERA). Here are Sunday’s lineups:

Baltimore

1. Jackson Holliday, 2B
2. Jordan Westburg, DH
3. Gunnar Henderson, SS
4. Ryan O’Hearn, 1B
5. Ramón Laureano, RF
6. Colton Cowser, LF
7. Ramón Urías, 3B
8. Cedric Mullins, CF
9. Alex Jackson, C

Miami

1. Xavier Edwards, 1B
2. Jesús Sánchez, RF
3. Agustín Ramírez, DH
4. Kyle Stowers, LF
5. Otto Lopez, SS
6. Liam Hicks, 1B
7. Dane Myers, CF
8. Graham Pauley, 3B
9. Nick Fortes, C

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.

In a flash, Georges Creek was over its banks. Water rose quickly on Main Street. It crashed into the Westernport library. Not far away, children were stranded in Westernport Elementary. One father carried his daughter to safety on his shoulders through waist-deep water.

Now, two months later, Mayor Judy Hamilton said the town is beginning to heal.

“We’re going to recover fully, and we’ll be back to where we were. We’re all working hard to make sure that happens,” Hamilton said.

Georges Creek is well below its banks, and along Main Street, the town has worked hard to recover. The street is lined with flags, and businesses are beginning to reopen.

But off of Main Street, it’s a different story. People are still suffering.

We met 86-year-old David Steiding. He led us into his home of 60 years. The water here was five feet deep. He points out the damage.

“[I] had to take all this drywall off. Mold got in behind the drywall. I got to replace that door,” Steiding explained.

He walked into another room.

“You can see here this was the bathroom. They had to take the walls out. The floor was tore out,” he said.

He can’t afford the repairs himself. He didn’t have flood insurance. He’s hoping for assistance, but the federal government hasn’t approved a disaster declaration, and he said there’s been no help from FEMA.

“The bad thing about it,’ said Steinding, “My wife died a month before and now I have to do this.”

Just then, Steiding’s son, also David, arrived.

“I mean, we’re still recovering,” he said. “It’s bad. It came in fast and hard, and he barely got out of the house.”

People in Westernport and several other Western Maryland towns hit by the flood say they now watch the news from the deadly Texas floods with empathy.

They know what it’s like to face a wall of water. It’s something they don’t want to experience ever again.

“I have citizens telling me, ‘I’m having panic attacks,’ when we’ve had a couple warnings for possible flash flooding because of heavy rain,” Mayor Hamilton said.

The visible wounds in town are beginning to heal, said the mayor, but scars remain.

Have a news tip? Contact Brad Bell at x.com/Brad7News.