Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2016
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 178, NWS Baltimore/Washington
NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 16, 2016, 6:07 PM EDT for Fairfax County, Prince William County, Virginia; Charles County, Prince George's County, Maryland. It was in force for 24 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
- Jul 16, 2016, 6:07 PM EDT (22:07 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 16, 2016, 6:31 PM EDT
- In force
- 24 min
- Issued by
- NWS Baltimore/Washington
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Charles County, MD, Prince George's County, MD, Fairfax County, VA, Prince William County, VA
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:06 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 34 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 37 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -158 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1668 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 3 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 51 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
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 Jul 16, 3:03 PM EDT, 3 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 3:03 PM EDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 303 PM EDT Sat Jul 16 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A weakening cold front will remain in the area through tonight. The front will dissipate Sunday. Another cold front will cross the area Monday night and Tuesday with high pressure building in for Wednesday through Friday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... Weak remnant of a frontal boundary is just to the northwest at present. There is an approaching shortwave and a jet streak just to the northwest. The earlier projected CAPE (up to 1500 ML) and shear (30+ kts 0-6km) is verifying and we are getting some isolated strong- severe storms. Expect this to continue into the early evening as the weak boundary sags a bit further south and the shortwave pushes east aloft. Severe should be isolated in nature but a few more are possible. In addition...with PW's above 1.5" and relatively slow storm motion...isolated flooding is also a concern. The shortwave responsible will push east of the area overnight and convection should die out by or shortly after midnight. Air will dry slightly but there should be radiational cooling so patchy fog will be a concern in areas which receive rain in the next several hours. Temperatures only a little cooler than last night. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY/... High pressure just barely nudges in from the north on Sunday as the frontal boundary dissipates. Heights will also rise. However...given lack of true cleansing of the atmosphere and expected continuation of hot weather...an isolated thunderstorm mainly south and east of I-95 can't be completely ruled out...though put the odds at 10 percent. Thus...its not in the forecast right now. Winds shift southerly again Sunday night into Monday as next front approaches. There is considerable difference among the guidance about just when this front crosses the area...with the Canadian suite showing significant convection Monday afternoon/evening with frontal passage overnight...the EC with less convection and a early Tuesday frontal passage (these likely are related)...and the GFS also not showing much convection but showing a later Tuesday passage. Given that...it was hard to concentrate PoPs or go very high with them during this period...but certainly potential of showers and t-storms exists. Highs on Monday should spike a few degrees ahead of the front with mid-90s expected...though heat indices should stay below advisory levels. Cooler Tuesday. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... High pressure builds into the area Wednesday and lasts through at least Thursday. Wednesday likely the most pleasant day, with relatively low humidity and sesonable temperatures. While temperatures rise each day through the end of the work week, humidity stays relatively low...so not too uncomfortable. Return of southerly flow late in the week would help to gradually increase humidity by early next weekend. && .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Generally VFR thru the period. Main concern is scattered showers and thunderstorms which may briefly reduce cigs and vis to IFR this afternoon and evening. Gusty winds up to 30-40 knots and small hail also not impossible. Overnight...MRB and CHO may go sub-VFR with patchy fog. Otherwise dry and VFR expected Sunday. Patchy fog possible same places Monday morning. Next chance of storms starts Monday afternoon through Tuesday with next front. Wednesday-Friday look VFR with high pressure. && .MARINE... Winds sub-SCA right now though thunderstorms to the west will be a concern for gusty winds over the next few hours. Special Marine Warnings may be necessary and boaters should be alert to rapid weather changes. Should be better conditions Sunday with weak high pressure. Southerly channeling with SCA conditions possible Sunday night into Monday night with t-storms also possible late Monday into Tuesday, all associated with next cold front. SCA with northwest flow behind front also possible later Tuesday. Likely to drop below SCA Wednesday thru Friday. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...RCM NEAR TERM...RCM SHORT TERM...RCM LONG TERM...MSE AVIATION...MSE/RCM MARINE...RCM/mse
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 16, 3:04 PM EDT, 3 hours 3 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 304 PM EDT SAT JUL 16 2016 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-171915- CHESAPEAKE BAY NORTH OF POOLES ISLAND MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM POOLES ISLAND TO SANDY POINT MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SANDY POINT TO NORTH BEACH MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NORTH BEACH TO DRUM POINT MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM DRUM POINT MD TO SMITH POINT VA- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM KEY BRIDGE TO INDIAN HEAD MD- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM INDIAN HEAD TO COBB ISLAND MD- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM COBB ISLAND MD TO SMITH POINT VA- PATAPSCO RIVER INCLUDING BALTIMORE HARBOR- CHESTER RIVER TO QUEENSTOWN MD-EASTERN BAY- CHOPTANK RIVER TO CAMBRIDGE MD AND THE LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER- PATUXENT RIVER TO BROOMES ISLAND MD- TANGIER SOUND AND THE INLAND WATERS SURROUNDING BLOODSWORTH ISLAND-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES- ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-CALVERT-SOUTHEAST HARFORD- PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA- KING GEORGE- 304 PM EDT SAT JUL 16 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER...AND ADJACENT COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL IS POSSIBLE. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN CAUSING FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053- 055-501>506-171915- WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-NORTHERN BALTIMORE- EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY- NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY- NORTHWEST HOWARD-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD-NORTHWEST HARFORD- AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE- NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-ORANGE-CULPEPER- NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-WESTERN HIGHLAND- EASTERN HIGHLAND-WESTERN LOUDOUN-EASTERN LOUDOUN- NORTHERN VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE-CENTRAL VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE- HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY-WESTERN GRANT- EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL-WESTERN PENDLETON- EASTERN PENDLETON- 304 PM EDT SAT JUL 16 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA... NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA...AND CENTRAL AND WESTERN MARYLAND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GARRETT COUNTY. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL IS POSSIBLE. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN CAUSING FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 16, 4:47 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
447 PM EDT SAT JUL 16 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0437 PM HAIL 1 NNE RESTON 38.97N 77.34W
07/16/2016 E0.88 INCH FAIRFAX VA TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1604405
DHLocal storm report, Jul 16, 5:24 PM EDT, 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
524 PM EDT SAT JUL 16 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0523 PM HAIL 1 SW BALTIMORE MARTIN S 39.32N 76.43W
07/16/2016 M1.00 INCH BALTIMORE MD TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1604406
RCMLocal storm report, Jul 16, 5:47 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
547 PM EDT SAT JUL 16 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0543 PM HAIL LAUREL 39.10N 76.86W
07/16/2016 E0.75 INCH PRINCE GEORGES MD TRAINED SPOTTER
BETWEEN PENNY AND DIME SIZE
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1604407
RCMLocal storm report, Jul 16, 5:49 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
549 PM EDT SAT JUL 16 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0515 PM HAIL 1 NNW ESSEX 39.32N 76.45W
07/16/2016 E1.00 INCH BALTIMORE MD TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1604408
DHLocal storm report, Jul 16, 6:05 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Jul 16, 6:07 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 1:48 AM EDT | Small Craft Advisory | LWX | 2 hr | |
| Jul 16, 2:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Rockingham, Shenandoah | 44 min |
| Jul 16, 2:44 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Rockingham | 6 hr |
| Jul 16, 2:57 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LWX | Augusta, Rockingham | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 3:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William | 39 min |
| Jul 16, 3:42 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LWX | Rockingham | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 3:42 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William | 48 min |
| Jul 16, 3:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Augusta, Rockingham, City of Harrisonburg | 25 min |
| Jul 16, 4:17 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, City of Alexandria, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church | 43 min |
| Jul 16, 4:18 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 87 min | |
| Jul 16, 4:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Augusta, Nelson, City of Charlottesville, City of Waynesboro | 29 min |
| Jul 16, 4:53 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Augusta, Rockingham | 6 hr |
| Jul 16, 5:15 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 90 min | |
| Jul 16, 5:38 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Fauquier, Prince William, Stafford | 37 min |
| Jul 16, 5:44 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 91 min | |
| Jul 16, 5:56 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 2 hr | |
| Jul 16, 5:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Baltimore, Harford, City of Baltimore | 45 min |
| Jul 16, 5:33 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LWX | Baltimore | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 5:34 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Anne Arundel, Prince George's | 41 min |
| Jul 16, 5:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George's | 26 min |
| Jul 16, 5:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Baltimore, Harford, City of Baltimore | 47 min |
| Jul 16, 6:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, City of Baltimore | 45 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2016Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Maryland, 2016Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2016
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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.