Alert archive / Maryland / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 113, NWS Wakefield, VA

June 2, 1998Dorchester County, Maryland

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 2, 1998, 9:50 PM EDT for Dorchester County, Maryland. It was in force for 50 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 2, 1998, 9:50 PM EDT (01:50 UTC)
Expired
Jun 2, 1998, 10:40 PM EDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Dorchester County, MD

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:51 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 2, 10:05 PM EDTHail 1East New Market, MD

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 2, 6:45 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 81 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 1998-06-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1145 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 1998-06-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 170 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1145 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-43 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
707 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
170 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
286 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.3
Supercell composite
7.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

585 
WUUS01 KAKQ 030151 RRA
SVRAKQ
MDC019-030240-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
950 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD VA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN DORCHESTER COUNTY - SOUTHEASTERN MARYLAND

* UNTIL 1040 PM EDT

* AT 950 PM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF VIENNA MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT
  35 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM ARE...
    VIENNA AT 945 PM EDT


A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER
THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
IF YOU ARE IN THESE AREAS... SEEK SAFETY IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. A BASEMENT OFFERS THE BEST PROTECTION.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH
AND LARGE...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL. DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO EMERGENCY
OFFICIALS FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TG/JK

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 2, 8:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 2, 8:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
818 PM EDT JUN 2 1998

DISCN:
WITH MANY CNTYS IN THE BOX THIS EVENING...LOCAL RADAR AT THE READY
HOWEVER ONLY ONE LONELY CELL STRADLING XTREME SERN PORTION OF CWA
ATTM. GOES8 OBSERVING MOD CU UPSTREAM OVER WVA ALONG AND AHD OF
COLD FRONTAL ZONE.

MAIN THREAT WILL LIKELY BE ON THE LOWER MD ERN SHR AS SRN END OF
BKN LINE CONVECTION NOW THRU ERN PA TO DCA CROSSES THAT AREA BEFORE
10PM. ANOTHER BKN LINE NOW ENTERING CNTRL PA PRECEDES FRONTAL ZONE
MAY ALSO AFFECT SAME AREA BEFORE MIDNIGHT...ALTHO LIFTING UPR JET
MAY BE THE SAVING GRACE. OTRW...WITH BEST DYNAMICS SPLIT N AND S
OF FA...SHRAS AND ISO TSRAS BEST BET WITH FROPA.

RIC 64/83 31     SBY 59/81 31
ORF 67/82 32     ECG 67/84 32 13

JK

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 2, 5:40 PM EDT, 4 hours 10 minutes before
VAZ048-060>062-065>071-079>080-030400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
540 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK HAS ISSUED A TORNADO
WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT.
THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN VIRGINIA
  AMELIA...BRUNSWICK...CHESTERFIELD INCLUDING COLONIAL HEIGHTS...
  ...CUMBERLAND...DINWIDDIE...FLUVANNA...GOOCHLAND
  ...HENRICO INCLUDING THE CITY OF RICHMOND...LUNENBURG...
  ...MECKLENBURG...NOTTOWAY...POWHATAN...PRINCE EDWARD

SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED IN THE COUNTIES MENTIONED ABOVE.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ADVANCED PLANNING DURING A WATCH IS ESSENTIAL. PERSONS SHOULD KNOW
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT A TORNADO OR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREQUENT
UPDATES THROUGH TIMELY STATEMENTS...NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OUR
WORLD WIDE WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/AKQ/

GINGRICH
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 5:40 PM EDT, 4 hours 10 minutes before
VAZ048-060>062-065>071-079>080-030400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
540 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK HAS ISSUED A TORNADO
WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT.
THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN VIRGINIA
  AMELIA...BRUNSWICK...CHESTERFIELD INCLUDING COLONIAL HEIGHTS...
  ...CUMBERLAND...DINWIDDIE...FLUVANNA...GOOCHLAND
  ...HENRICO INCLUDING THE CITY OF RICHMOND...LUNENBURG...
  ...MECKLENBURG...NOTTOWAY...POWHATAN...PRINCE EDWARD

SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED IN THE COUNTIES MENTIONED ABOVE.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ADVANCED PLANNING DURING A WATCH IS ESSENTIAL. PERSONS SHOULD KNOW
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT A TORNADO OR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREQUENT
UPDATES THROUGH TIMELY STATEMENTS...NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OUR
WORLD WIDE WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/AKQ/

GINGRICH
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 6:40 PM EDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
VAZ075-MDZ021>025-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
640 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK HAS ISSUED A TORNADO
WATCH FOR EXTREME NORTHEAST VIRGINIA AND THE LOWER MARYLAND
EASTERN SHORE UNTIL 100 AM EDT. THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...

IN VIRGINIA
 WESTMORELAND

IN MARYLAND
  DORCHESTER...SOMERSET...WICOMICO...INLAND WORCESTER
  ...MARYLAND BEACHES INCLUDING OCEAN CITY

SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED IN THE COUNTIES MENTIONED ABOVE.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ADVANCED PLANNING DURING A WATCH IS ESSENTIAL. PERSONS SHOULD KNOW
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT A TORNADO OR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREQUENT
UPDATES THROUGH TIMELY STATEMENTS...NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OUR
WORLD WIDE WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/AKQ/

GINGRICH
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 6:40 PM EDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
VAZ075-MDZ021>025-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
640 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK HAS ISSUED A TORNADO
WATCH FOR EXTREME NORTHEAST VIRGINIA AND THE LOWER MARYLAND
EASTERN SHORE UNTIL 100 AM EDT. THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...

IN VIRGINIA
 WESTMORELAND

IN MARYLAND
  DORCHESTER...SOMERSET...WICOMICO...INLAND WORCESTER
  ...MARYLAND BEACHES INCLUDING OCEAN CITY

SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED IN THE COUNTIES MENTIONED ABOVE.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ADVANCED PLANNING DURING A WATCH IS ESSENTIAL. PERSONS SHOULD KNOW
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT A TORNADO OR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREQUENT
UPDATES THROUGH TIMELY STATEMENTS...NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OUR
WORLD WIDE WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/AKQ/

GINGRICH
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 9:00 PM EDT, 50 minutes before
VAZ075-MDZ021>025-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
900 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT...

IN VIRGINIA
 WESTMORELAND

IN MARYLAND
  DORCHESTER...SOMERSET...WICOMICO...INLAND WORCESTER
  ...MARYLAND BEACHES INCLUDING OCEAN CITY

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO FIRE ALONG
AND AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT STRETCHED FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
THROUGH CENTRAL KENTUCKY. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE OCCCURING
OVER NORTHERN VIRGINIA...NORTHERN MARYLAND....EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
AND DELAWARE.

AT 9 PM EDT...THUNDERSTORMS WERE ENTERING THE DELMARVA PENINSULA
THROUGH DORCHESTER COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST
AT 30 MPH AND ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN
SHORE THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ADVANCED PLANNING DURING A WATCH IS ESSENTIAL. PERSONS SHOULD KNOW
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT A TORNADO OR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

SKYWARN REMAINS ACTIVATED IN THE COUNTIES MENTIONED ABOVE.

KELLER
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 9:00 PM EDT, 50 minutes before
VAZ075-MDZ021>025-030500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
900 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT...

IN VIRGINIA
 WESTMORELAND

IN MARYLAND
  DORCHESTER...SOMERSET...WICOMICO...INLAND WORCESTER
  ...MARYLAND BEACHES INCLUDING OCEAN CITY

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO FIRE ALONG
AND AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT STRETCHED FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
THROUGH CENTRAL KENTUCKY. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE OCCCURING
OVER NORTHERN VIRGINIA...NORTHERN MARYLAND....EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
AND DELAWARE.

AT 9 PM EDT...THUNDERSTORMS WERE ENTERING THE DELMARVA PENINSULA
THROUGH DORCHESTER COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST
AT 30 MPH AND ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN
SHORE THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ADVANCED PLANNING DURING A WATCH IS ESSENTIAL. PERSONS SHOULD KNOW
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT A TORNADO OR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

SKYWARN REMAINS ACTIVATED IN THE COUNTIES MENTIONED ABOVE.

KELLER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wakefield, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 2, 9:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQDorchester24 min
Jun 2, 10:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQWicomico49 min
Jun 2, 11:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQSomerset, Worcester47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Maryland, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.