Alert archive / Maryland / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 197, NWS Baltimore/Washington

August 16, 2003Saint Mary's County, Maryland

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 16, 2003, 6:26 PM EDT for Saint Mary's County, Maryland. It was in force for 49 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 16, 2003, 6:26 PM EDT (22:26 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2003, 7:15 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Baltimore/Washington
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Saint Mary's County, MD

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 104 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 12:00Z on 2003-08-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2896 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 12:00Z on 2003-08-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 50 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2896 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
852 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
72 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 16, 3:18 PM EDT, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 3:18 PM EDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
300 PM EDT FRI AUG 15 2003

GIVEN ENRGY AVBL IN THE ATMOSPHERE...FACT THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAD
MUILTIPLE SMALL TSTMS W/ ISOLD SVR...AND A LOT OF CONVECTION TO OUR
N AHEAD OF THE FRONT ACROSS CENTRAL NY FEEL JUSTIFIED TO GO ABV
GUIDNC POPS TNGT. IN THE GRIDDS IT APPEARS AS LKLY IN THE EVE ACROSS
THE N...AND THEN SWITCHING TO THE S AFTER MIDNIGHT...BUT THE ZNS WL
READ LKLY EVERYWHERE W/ NO MENTION OF TIME. SPOKE W/ SPC ABT PSBLTY
OF WTCH BOX INTO OUR AREA...THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THE SHEAR WAS
LACKING. IN SPITE OF THAT BETWEEN AVBL LOW LVL ENERGY AND APRCHG
BNDRY FEEL THERE WL LIKELY BE SOME SVR THIS EVE. SINCE WINDS ARE LGT
FLSH FLDG IS A CONCERN.

AFTR THAT BNDRY OVR OR JUST S OF THE CWA ON SUN. WL MAINTAIN CHC
POPS DURG THE DAY. HIGHS IN M80S.

WOODY

.LONG TERM (SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY):
...A PATTERN CHANGE APPEARS TO BE ON THE HORIZON...

OBSERVATIONS: WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A JET ACROSS THE EASTERN GREAT
LAKES DIVING SOUTHEAST TOWARD THE MID ATLANTIC...RECARVING THE
TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN CONUS. A RIDGE LOCATED ACROSS THE
PLAINS...WITH IMPRESSIVE 500MB HEIGHTS NEAR 600DM...APPEARS TO BE
BUILDING NORTHWARD INTO WEST CENTRAL CANADA. A SERIES OF STRONG JETS
ARE APPROACHING THE NORTHWEST CONUS FROM THE ALASKA REGION. A CUTOFF
LOW IS FORMING ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...JUST SOUTH OF A REGION
OF DEVELOPING SPLIT FLOW WHICH IS AT THE EXIT REGION OF THE FIRST
STRONG JET. AT THE SURFACE...15Z ANALYSIS CONTINUES TO SHOW SEVERAL
WASHED OUT FRONTAL BOUNDARIES EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS...WITH A
SHARPER COLD FRONT STRETCHING FROM DETROIT TO BUFFALO SINKING
SOUTHWARD.

MODELS: GFS INITIALIZED WELL OVER NORTH AMERICA...HOWEVER 300 MB
WIND SPEEDS WERE UNDERDONE IN THE GFS WITH THE EASTERN PACIFIC JET.
MODELS BRING THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY SOUTH TOWARDS CENTRAL VIRGINIA
SUNDAY NIGHT...AND HANG ONTO THE MIDLEVEL TROUGH ACROSS THE MID
ATLANTIC THROUGH EARLY WEEK. BY LATER IN THE WEEK THE
CANADIAN/GFS/EUROPEAN ALL SHOW A TROUGHING IN THE NORTHWEST CONUS
AND BUILDING RIDGE ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS. THE WRINKLE IS HOW EACH
MODEL HANDLES A CUTOFF LOW WHICH IS NOW FORMING ACROSS THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. THE GFS/EUROPEAN TRY TO PICK THIS CUTOFF LOW BACK UP INTO
THE MAIN ZONAL FLOW AND RACE IT TO OUR NORTH BY THE LATER
PERIODS...WHILE THE CANADIAN IS MUCH SLOWER AND HAS THE RIDGE
DOMINATING THE PATTERN.

ENSEMBLE DATA: 09Z SHORT RANGE ENSEMBLES ARE FAIRLY CONFIDENT IN
DROPPING APPROACHING FRONT JUST SOUTHEAST OF FORECAST AREA BY SUNDAY
EVENING. THEY ALSO SHOW GOOD CONTINUITY WITH PASSING THE UPPER
TROUGH TO OUR SOUTHEAST BY MONDAY NIGHT...AND WITH THE CUTOFF LOW
WHICH FLOATS TO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES BY THIS TIME. 00Z GFS ENSEMBLES
TAKE THE TROUGH TO OUR SOUTHEAST MONDAY NIGHT...ALONG WITH BROADEN
AND EXPAND THE RIDGE TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST CONUS THROUGH THE WEEK
WHILE CREATING A TIGHT ZONAL FLOW ACROSS CANADA. 00Z CANADIAN
ENSEMBLES PUSH THE TROUGH TO OUR SOUTHEAST TUESDAY...AND BROADENS
THE RIDGE TOWARDS THE EASTERN CONUS DURING THE MID WEEK...WHILE
DEVELOPING A STRONG ZONAL FLOW ACROSS CANADA.

FORECAST RATIONALE: ALTHOUGH CANADIAN ENSEMBLES SHOW SOME
UNCERTAINTY TO ITS OPERATIONAL MODEL SOLUTION...DO PREFER ITS
SOLUTION BASED ON HOW IT HANDLES THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST CUTOFF LOW.
WITH SUCH A STRONG JET IMPINGING ON SOUTHWEST CANADA...LIKELIHOOD OF
THE CUTOFF BEING PICKED BACK UP INTO THE MAIN FLOW IS LOW. THIS
COULD BE THE GFS/EUROPEANS WAY OF KEEPING SOME TROUGHINESS OVER THE
EASTERN CONUS AS WITH THE CURRENT PATTERN. THINK A PATTERN CHANGE IS
UNDERWAY...AND BELIEVE A STRONGER RIDGE WILL DOMINATE THE EASTERN
CONUS BY WEEKS END...LEAVING THE CUTOFF OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS.
THEREFORE HAVE REMOVED MENTION OF PRECIPITATION ON FRIDAY.

HAVE BUMPED UP MAX TEMPERATURES DURING THE WEDNESDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY TIME FRAME ABOVE MRF ENSEMBLE MOS DUE TO A BUILDING
MIDLEVEL RIDGE ALONG WITH AN INCREASING TEMPERATURE TREND WITH THE
CANADIAN ENSEMBLE 850MB TEMPERATURES DURING THIS PERIOD. EXPECT THE
PATTERN TO SHIFT TO A TYPICAL SUMMER PATTERN (MAINLY DRY AND
INCREASING HEAT INTO THE 90S).

ROGOWSKI

.LWX...
DC...NONE.
MD...NONE.
VA...NONE.
WV...NONE.
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 16, 10:59 AM EDT, 7 hours 27 minutes before
DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-050>057-
WVZ048>055-170800-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1059 AM EDT SAT AUG 16 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MARYLAND WEST OF THE CHESAPEAKE
BAY AND EAST OF GARRETT COUNTY...THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...NORTHERN
VIRGINIA...THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY...AND THE
EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE NORTH THIS AFTERNOON.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

ALTHOUGH THE REGION IS NOT OUTLOOKED AS BEING AT RISK FOR SEVERE
WEATHER...SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT AND SUNDAY.

ABW

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 16, 3:55 PM EDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
VAZ026-162100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
355 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 2003

AT 3:55 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM SOUTHEAST
OF HARRISONBURG IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY...WHICH WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.
RADAR INDICATES THAT NEARLY THREE INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER
THIS AREA DURING THE PAST HOUR. POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING IS POSSIBLE
FROM THIS NEARLY STATIONARY THUNDERSTORM. THE COMMUNITY OF ROCKY BAR
WILL BE AFFECTED THROUGH 5:00 PM. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT IN CASE A FUTURE FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

ROGOWSKI
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 4:27 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
DCZ001-VAZ054-162130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
427 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING WASHINGTON DC AND ARLINGTON...

AT 427 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES WEST OF WESTOVER TO LITTLE
FALLS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. THE COMMUNITIES OF
WASHINGTON...ADAMS MORGAN...ANACOSTIA...GEORGETOWN...THE NATIONAL
MALL...ALEXANDRIA...ARLINGTON...BALLSTON...NATIONAL AIRPORT AND
ROSSLYN WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS THROUGH 530 PM EDT.
RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE WARNINGS ARE
ISSUED.

MANNING
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 4:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 16, 5:20 PM EDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 16, 6:15 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
615 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0225 PM    CLEAR SPRING              MD   WIND DAMAGE
08/16/03   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN. EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT REPORT.

0400 PM    POOLESVILLE               MD   WIND DAMAGE
08/16/03   MONTGOMERY                     TREES DOWN. LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT REPORT.

0430 PM    REMINGTON                 VA   WIND DAMAGE
08/16/03   FAUQUIER                       TREES DOWN. 911 CENTER
                                          REPORT.

0430 PM    5SE ELKWOOD               VA   WIND DAMAGE
08/16/03   CULPEPER                       TREES DOWN JUST ACROSS
                                          THE CULPEPER/FAUQUIER
                                          COUNTY LINE. RELAYED BY
                                          FAUQUIER COUNTY 911
                                          CENTER.

0506 PM    LA PLATA                  MD   WIND DAMAGE
08/16/03   CHARLES                        TREES DOWN ON THE WEST
                                          SIDE OF LA PLATA. 911
                                          CENTER REPORT.

0526 PM    5E FALMOUTH               VA   WIND DAMAGE
08/16/03   STAFFORD                       TREES DOWN NEAR THE
                                          STAFFORD/KING GEORGE
                                          COUNTY LINE. 911 CENTER
                                          REPORT.
Local storm report, Aug 16, 6:19 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
619 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0351 PM    WASHINGTON                DC   WIND DAMAGE
08/16/03   DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA           TREES DOWN IN NORTHWEST.
                                          FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 16, 1:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXOrange42 min
Aug 16, 2:36 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX84 min
Aug 16, 3:34 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX86 min
Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFairfax47 min
Aug 16, 4:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFauquier40 min
Aug 16, 4:23 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX97 min
Aug 16, 4:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXStafford66 min
Aug 16, 4:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXSpotsylvania, City of Fredericksburg60 min
Aug 16, 4:49 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX116 min
Aug 16, 5:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXKing George76 min
Aug 16, 5:29 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX2 hr
Aug 16, 5:29 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX2 hr
Aug 16, 2:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXWashington54 min
Aug 16, 2:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXBaltimore, Harford66 min
Aug 16, 3:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXMontgomery62 min
Aug 16, 4:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXPrince George's57 min
Aug 16, 4:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXCharles64 min
Aug 16, 4:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXCalvert61 min
Aug 16, 5:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXCharles30 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Maryland, 2003Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.