Tornado-like destruction in Westgate neighborhood of Bethesda

A fast-moving, nearly-silent storm whisked through Bethesda early this morning around 3:00 AM. It appears to have spawned a small tornado or straight-line wind gust in the Westgate neighborhood off of Massachusetts Avenue.

Trees and limbs were brought down on homes, yards and cars on Newport Avenue at Earlston Drive, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer. I heard the wind, and it sounded highly unusual. I expected there could be a tornado imminent, but never heard the typical roaring sound one would generate. But the wind was one continuous gust that never let up for about 90 seconds. I heard no thunder and saw no lightning.

Photo by Pete Piringer/MCFRS

Robbery in downtown Bethesda, assault on Arlington Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 8, according to crime data:

Assault. 7100 block Arlington Road at 10:07 PM.

Theft. 7700 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Robbery. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue at 3:16 PM.

Theft from vehicle. 6900 block Arlington Road.

Theft. 5500 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Drug arrest. 4900 block St. Elmo Avenue at 1:32 AM.

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Newport Avenue.

Stolen car. 11400 block Dorchester Lane at 7:51 AM (Pike District).

Theft. 11800 block Old Georgetown Road (Pike District).

Disorderly conduct. Rockville Pike at Center Drive at 7:38 PM.

Death. 4800 block Cordell Avenue at 5:30 PM.

Car stolen in Chevy Chase Section 5, auto break-in in Glen Cove + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on May 27, according to crime data:

Theft. 4700 block Bethesda Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 4700 block Chevy Chase Drive at 7:45 AM.

Stolen car. 3700 block Underwood Street at 8:29 AM (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Vehicle burglary. 5100 block Newport Avenue (Glen Cove).

Theft from vehicle. 5900 block Montrose Road.

Theft from vehicle. 7500 block Heatherton Lane.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Auto break-ins on Bradley Blvd., Newport Avenue; car stolen in Pike District + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on March 25, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 4700 block Bradley Boulevard.

Burglary. 3600 block Taylor Street (Chevy Chase Section Three).

Burglary. 4600 block N. Park Avenue.

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5100 block Newport Avenue (Glen Cove).

Vehicle burglary. 11400 block Rockville Pike (Pike District).

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Stolen car. 6100 block Executive Boulevard.

ASSAULT W/DEADLY WEAPON ON MARINELLI RD., THEFT IN GREEN ACRES + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on February 11, according to crime data:

Theft from vehicle. 6900 block Winterberry Lane (Burning Tree Valley).

Theft. 5100 block Newport Avenue (Green Acres).

Theft from vehicle. 4400 block Willard Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 10900 block Stillwater Avenue.

Assault with a deadly weapon. 5700 block Marinelli Road (Pike District).

Theft. 11500 block Schuylkill Road (Randolph Hills).

ASSAULT ON NEWPORT AVE., DRUG ARREST AT SUBURBAN HOSPITAL + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on January 27, according to crime data:

Theft. 7200 block Woodmont Avenue.

Burglary. 7100 block Woodmont Avenue.

Drug arrest. Suburban Hospital.

Vehicle burglary. 9400 block Old Georgetown Road.

Burglary. 3100 block Cummings Lane.

Assault. 4800 block Newport Avenue (Spring Hill).

Burglary. 5200 block Nahant Street.

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Cloister Drive.

Theft. 11300 block Schuylkill Road (Randolph Hills).

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.