UPDATE: Thunderstorm Watch Issued, Outages Possible Wednesday

UPDATE (7:45 p.m.)—The Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. (BGE) warned customers about possible weather-related power outages Wednesday, in light of predictions that a thunderstorm and high winds might hit central Maryland.

As of 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, the BGE outage map online showed less than 1,000 customers out of power in Anne Arundel County. More than 3,500 total customers, mainly concentrated in Annapolis, lost power in the area after the storms rolled through the area.

on the Broadneck peninsula around 5 p.m. Wednesday and started a fire. There were two people home at the time, but both were able to escape without injury.

Nearly earlier this month, some for a more than week, after the storm hit the region.

The warnings also come amid , which has triggered the opening of across the region.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. Wednesday in Anne Arundel County and surrounding areas. Some of those storms may be severe, with large wind gusts, hail and possible flash flooding, according to NWS.

There also may be “strong to severe” thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening as well.

“As the region continues to experience high temperatures, exceeding 100 degrees, BGE is also preparing for potential weather-related outages from the severe thunderstorms and high wind forecasted for this afternoon,” said Jeannette M. Mills, vice president and chief customer officer for BGE in a press release on Wednesday.

BGE officials said in a statement they activated the company’s voluntary energy demand response program, called PeakRewards, “which helps lower the cost of electricity.”

The company activated PeakRewards for about two hours Tuesday, officials said.

“This program is critical to helping the company and the electric grid operator for the region reduce peak demand and keep the electric system balanced, particularly during periods of high demand,” officials said in a statement.

Associate Regional Editor Susan Jenkins contributed to this report.

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