Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2016

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 270, NWS Baltimore/Washington

August 15, 2016Loudoun County, Virginia; Montgomery County, Maryland

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 15, 2016, 5:06 PM EDT for Loudoun County, Virginia; Montgomery County, Maryland. It was in force for 39 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 15, 2016, 5:06 PM EDT (21:06 UTC)
Expired
Aug 15, 2016, 5:45 PM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Baltimore/Washington
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Montgomery County, MD, Loudoun County, VA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 16 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:06 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, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 18 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2016-08-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 163 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2016-08-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -11 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
163 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-212 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1358 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
12 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 15, 3:14 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 15, 3:14 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
314 PM EDT Mon Aug 15 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure will remain centered over Bermuda through Thursday.
A weak frontal boundary will nudge north tonight. Low pressure
tracking across the Great Lakes and northern New England Tuesday
into Tuesday night. An associated cold front will enter the
central Mid-Atlantic Tuesday night, lingering over the area
through Wednesday. The front may settle south by the end of the
week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/...
Thunderstorms have developed over the high terrain this afternoon in
strong surface heating. These are exhibiting pulse behavior in an
environment of modest shear (30 kt or less). However, stronger cores
could produce locally severe downburst winds with favorable DCAPE.
Movement is also slow in an environment of relatively high PWAT,
with cells getting hung on the terrain, so heavy rain and localized
flash flooding will be a threat as well. Some storms will begin to
drift east during the late afternoon, but coverage in the I-95
corridor should be spotty.

Weak impulse over NE TN will be riding around the ridge this
evening. This may bring a renewed chance for storms, and see the
best chance of storms pushing east toward the metros, especially
N/W. Given ongoing storms this afternoon, hydro concerns will need
to be monitored over the mountains.

Later tonight, the impulse will move to the east, and low level
confluence associated with the weak front will lift to the north, so
would expect a drying trend after midnight. Patchy fog may develop
in areas which see rain this evening. Lows will be in the upper 60s
west and lower to mid 70s in the east.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Low pressure will be moving through the Great Lakes on Tuesday. This
will place the local area in the warm sector and a steady southerly
breeze. Temperatures and humidity are expected to creep up, with a
fairly solid chance of the I-95 corridor and parts of the nearby
Piedmont reaching Heat Advisory criteria of 105F.

Thunderstorm chances are somewhat in question given the better
forcing will be north of the area. However, instability should again
be substantial enough for at least some scattered storms by
afternoon, with the best chance in the mountains. Flow will be
increased, so a few storms could be severe.

The weakening front will be slowly dropping into the area Tuesday
night into Wednesday. Can't totally rule out some showers lingering
through the night on Tuesday, but the better thunderstorm chances
will come Wednesday with the front draped somewhere across the area.
Locally heavy rain would be possible if the front stalls out and
storms train along the front. The clouds and precipitation, as well
as cooling aloft, should knock a few degrees off the highs for
Wednesday.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
A front is expected to stall across Virginia Wednesday night. This
should prolong the chance of showers and thunderstorms at any time
during the period.

As the front finally pushes southeast toward the Outer Banks
Thursday into Thursday night. The threat of showers and
thunderstorms diminishes along the Mason Dixon region and parts
of northern Virginia.

High pressure will build over Quebec, Canada and New England
Thursday night through Friday night. Drier and slightly cooler, yet
seasonable, air will funnel southward into our region. We can't rule
out a scattered shower later Friday into Friday night due to a few
week disturbances that may try to sneak under the building high
pressure.

The area of high pressure will weaken some over our region Saturday
and Saturday night, allowing for additional weak disturbances to
move in from the west and bring us a chance for additional showers
or perhaps a thunderstorm.

A moderate cold front is expected to move slowly eastward across the
Great Lakes region Sunday. This front could spawn a few
thunderstorms, mainly in the afternoon and along and west of I-81.

Additional showers and thunderstorms could accompany the front
Sunday night as the front moves toward the Chesapeake Bay.

High pressure will build in behind the front Monday.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Storms developing over the mountains this afternoon with MRB/CHO
most likely to be affected first. However, there may not be much
push to get them into the metros until late afternoon, if not
evening when an impulse arrives from the southwest. Patchy fog could
develop tonight where it rains, and have thus limited this threat to
MRB/CHO.

Scattered storms will be possible again Tuesday afternoon and
evening, although many models are suggesting coverage will be less
than today. Southerly winds may also gust up to 20 kt at times. The
threat of storms may repeat on Wednesday, depending on the position
of a slowly moving cold front.

MVFR to IFR conditions could develop with showers and
thunderstorms Wednesday night through Thursday night. Winds west
becoming southwest at 5 to 10 knots through the period.

&&

.MARINE...
Light and variable winds are expected through tonight. Scattered
storms will push toward the water this evening, and may contain a
gusty wind threat. South winds will increase Tuesday afternoon, and
will hoist a Small Craft Advisory for all waters. The strong winds
will likely continue over the Bay through Tuesday night. A few
strong storms will again be possible during the afternoon and
evening hours. Even though winds will decrease on Wednesday, the
threat of storms will remain as a front slowly drops into the area.

No marine hazards expected Wednesday night through Thursday night.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Southerly flow will increase on Tuesday, which will lead to tidal
anomaly increases Tuesday night. The early morning tide cycle
Wednesday may need to be monitored for possible minor inundation at
sensitive locations. Do not have high confidence at this time.
Timing of a cold front and the magnitude of southerly channeling
ahead of it will be key factors.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Ranking of 2016 average temperatures Jun 1-Aug 14:

DC   4th warmest 80.3 degrees
Balt 21th warmest 77.1 degrees (tied with 1921, 1942, and 1952)
IAD  6th warmest 77.0 degrees

*For DC - 5 of the top 6 have been since 2010. Records go back to
1871.

DCA tied the record high temperature at 100 deg and tied the
record high minimum temperature of 80 yesterday, Sunday.

IAD broke the record high minimum temperature at 76 deg yesterday,
Sunday.

For today, Monday...
Record high temperatures are not expected however record high
minimum/warm low temperatures are possible.

DCA...record high 103 in 1988...record high minimum 78 in 2005.
BWI...record high 103 in 1988...record high minimum 77 in 1908.
IAD...record high 102 in 1988...record high minimum 75 in 1988.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM EDT Tuesday for DCZ001.
     Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for DCZ001.
MD...Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM EDT Tuesday for MDZ006-011-013-
     014-016>018-504-506>508.
     Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for MDZ011.
VA...Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM EDT Tuesday for VAZ050>057-502-
     506.
     Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for VAZ054.
WV...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM to 9 PM EDT Tuesday for ANZ530-
     535-536-538.
     Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM Tuesday to 6 AM EDT Wednesday
     for ANZ531>534-537-539>543.

&&

SYNOPSIS...ADS
NEAR TERM...ADS
SHORT TERM...ADS
LONG TERM...KLW
AVIATION...ADS/KLW
MARINE...ADS/KLW
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...HTS
CLIMATE...WOODY!
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 15, 3:22 PM EDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
322 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016

ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-161200-
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-
322 PM EDT MON AUG 15 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

A HEAT ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...
ARLINGTON...ALEXANDRIA...FALLS CHURCH AND BALTIMORE CITY THIS
AFTERNOON.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS ON THE
WATERS DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A HEAT ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA
TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

.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>506-161200-
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-
322 PM EDT MON AUG 15 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

THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY
NEAR AND WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS. A FEW STORMS MAY ALSO
PRODUCE LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A HEAT ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE BALTIMORE AND
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREAS AND VIRGINIA PIEDMONT TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 15, 3:43 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
343 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0304 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WSW WOODSTOCK         38.87N  78.54W
08/15/2016                   SHENANDOAH         VA   911 CALL CENTER

            WIRES DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HONEYSUCKLE AVENUE
            AND SENEDO ROAD.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX1604720

DH
Local storm report, Aug 15, 4:40 PM EDT, 26 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 15, 4:43 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 14, 8:00 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX2 hr
Aug 14, 8:57 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX93 min
Aug 14, 9:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX116 min
Aug 15, 3:44 AM EDTHeat AdvisoryLWXArlington, City of Alexandria, City of Falls Church13 hr
Aug 15, 2:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXRockingham32 min
Aug 15, 3:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFrederick26 min
Aug 15, 3:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFrederick, Shenandoah, Warren47 min
Aug 15, 3:15 PM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryLWX42 hr
Aug 15, 3:19 PM EDTHeat AdvisoryLWXArlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Greene, King George and 10 more27 hr
Aug 15, 4:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXLoudoun50 min
Aug 15, 5:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXCulpeper, Fauquier, Rappahannock42 min
Aug 15, 6:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX116 min
Aug 15, 6:23 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX2 hr
Aug 15, 6:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXCulpeper28 min
Aug 15, 7:10 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX95 min
Aug 15, 7:21 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX114 min
Aug 15, 7:24 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningLWXCulpeper2 hr
Aug 15, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFauquier, Prince William, Stafford38 min
Aug 15, 7:52 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX113 min
Aug 14, 9:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXBaltimore, Harford42 min
Aug 15, 2:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAllegany, Washington43 min
Aug 15, 5:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXHoward, Montgomery, Prince George's47 min
Aug 15, 6:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAnne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's42 min
Aug 15, 6:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAnne Arundel, Prince George's55 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.