Severe Thunderstorm Warning 421, NWS Baltimore/Washington

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
552 PM EDT Fri Aug 28 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
A surface trough will persist near I-95 through tonight.
Meanwhile, the remnants of Laura will merge with a cold front
over the Ohio River Valley tonight, then cross the Middle
Atlantic on Saturday. Canadian high pressure will build in
Sunday into Monday. A few frontal systems will likely impact the
area during the middle to latter portions of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
A Flash Flood Watch has been issued until 4 AM for areas along
the I-66/US-50 corridor and then up along I-95 into Baltimore.
We're growing concerned that flooding may occur as ongoing
storms drop an E-W oriented outflow boundary southward. As the
trough to our west approaches, and we start to feel it's
influence, flow at 850 hPa is expected to turn southerly and
start to overrun/warm advect atop the stalling outflow boundary.
With flow aloft paralleling the boundary, the potential is there
for training of storms along and north of the outflow boundary
this evening into the overnight hours. The HRRR and NAM show a
narrow stripe of 2-6 inches of rain within the Flash Flood
Watch in the vicinity of the stalled boundary between roughly 00
and 06z. By late tonight, low-level southerly flow will further
increase in advance of the trough/remnants of Laura, causing
the boundary and associated warm advection precipitation to its
north to break out of a stalled position and lift northward.

Previous discussion...
Subtle warm/moist advection along a remnant outflow from
yesterday evening's convection has led to a rather persistent
area of showers and a few thunderstorms between I-81 and the
Allegheny Front from the PA border southward to near Franklin
WV. Meanwhile, severe convection (in the form of a line) is
approaching from PA. This convection will propagate into
northern/northeastern MD this afternoon, aided by differential
heating between the showers to the west and somewhat clearer
conditions to the east. Given the moderate lapse rates,
increasing CAPE and modest shear present, isolated to scattered
damaging wind gusts appear possible over N MD this afternoon,
possibly into the Baltimore metro area. Although the primary
threat is damaging wind gusts, large hail or an isolated tornado
cannot be ruled out given the CAPE/shear balance and the
orientation of the line to the low level winds (not to mention a
little added lift near the bay breeze), especially over
northern and northeastern Maryland.

Elsewhere, CAPE and surface convergence may be muted somewhat by
a more westerly component to the low-level flow through late
afternoon. Winds should back to the SW by evening as the
remnants of Laura merge with a cold front, and the joined system
approaches from the west. Showers and thunderstorms may become
more widespread through this evening as a low-level jet
increases ahead of the approaching system. This combined with
residual instability leftover from daytime heating may be enough
for a continued risk of gusty to damaging winds, with heavy
rain becoming a threat with any repeat activity in an
environment characterized by deep warm cloud layer depths and
PWs around 2".

Tonight will be muggy. As low level flow continues to increase
ahead of the system approaching from the west, showers will
likely re-develop near the mountains and begin moving east.
Moderately heavy rain is possible with PWs over 2 inches.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
The frontal system/remnants of Laura will cross the Middle
Atlantic on Saturday. Rain will likely be most widespread
near/west of the Blue Ridge during the morning hours, peaking
around midday near I-95. Conditions should clear rapidly by
evening as the system departs to the east, though some gusty
northwest winds are possible in its wake especially near the
Chesapeake Bay.

Regarding hazardous weather associated with the remnants of
Laura: embedded convective elements will be capable of heavy
rain and gusty to perhaps damaging winds given the increased
moisture and low level wind field. A few tornadoes can't be
ruled out if enough near-surface based instability is realized,
mainly across central VA to southern MD. The extent of the
severe threat will be dictated by how much heating and
instability we are able to acquire, which remains uncertain.
Overall, the system should be moving quickly enough to preclude
a more widespread/significant flash flood threat, though with
the tropical moisture present, storms could produce isolated
heavy rainfall amounts pretty quickly, and when one considers
they will be embedded in a larger area of rain (not to mention
storms tonight wetting the ground), flooding is certainly still
possible (though perhaps a bit more sporadic).

High pressure is forecast to build in on Sunday, flipping the
pattern to cooler, drier and less humid than normal to close out
the weekend.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
For the beginning of the workweek, expect showers and maybe a few
rumbles of thunder in the afternoon and evening hours on Monday
ahead of some shortwave energy making its way through our area.
Instability parameters look to remain low keeping our chances for
convection/severe instances low. Warm front pushes to our north
Tuesday bringing some more chances for unsettled weather through
Wednesday with an introduction of some more shortwave energy. We
should remain fairly dry Thursday in between the two boundaries
with a cold front approaching to end the workweek. Mid-to-late
part of the week may bring some chances for severe storms.
Instability parameters are hinting at the chance for this to
occur with MLCAPE approaching 2000 j/kg, 0-6 km shear reaching
30+ kts. PWATs over 2" for Wednesday night into early Thursday
could pose a threat for flooding in isolated areas.

Temperatures for the extended period will start out as seasonable or
just below normal Monday and then we enter a warming trend for the
rest of the week with highs flirting with 90F. Overnight lows may
reach the upper 50s on Monday before heading back to normal
temperatures to close out the workweek. Dewpoints will follow the
same trend adding enough moisture to be available for showers and
storms to fire off in the later part of the workweek.

&&

.AVIATION /22Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely between 19-23z,
with additional development possible this evening. Any
thunderstorm may produce gusty winds and IFR conditions.
Otherwise, VFR is expected into this evening before ceilings
drop overnight into Saturday as a cold front approaches from the
west (with the remnants of Laura embedded in it). Heavy
downpours and a few thunderstorms are possible, likely peaking
12-18z. Conditions should improve by late Saturday as the system
departs. SW winds gusting to 20 kts possible Sat, with gusty NW
winds possible Sat eve behind the departing system.

Mainly VFR Sun-Tue outside of any patchy early AM fog or PM
storms Mon/Tue.

&&

.MARINE...
Westerly winds will back around to the southwest through this
evening as the remnants of Laura merge with a cold front
approaching from the west. The combined system will cross the
region Saturday. Gusty southwest winds of 20-25 knots are
expected Saturday morning, persisting into the afternoon across
the waters south of a line roughly from North Beach to the
Occoquan River. Northwest winds behind the system are expected
to gust 25-30 kts over most of the wider waters Saturday night.

Winds should become lighter Sunday into Monday as high pressure
builds in, though adjustments to the Small Craft Advisory (SCA)
both in time and area may be needed. Gusty winds are possible
ahead of another frontal system Tuesday.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...Flash Flood Watch until 4 AM EDT Saturday for DCZ001.
MD...Flash Flood Watch until 4 AM EDT Saturday for MDZ011-013-014-
     503>506.
VA...Flash Flood Watch until 4 AM EDT Saturday for VAZ027>031-
     038>040-051>054-501-502-505>507.
WV...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to noon EDT Saturday for
     ANZ530>532-539-540.
     Small Craft Advisory from midnight Saturday night to 6 AM EDT
     Sunday for ANZ531>533-539>542.
     Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday for ANZ533-
     541-542.
     Small Craft Advisory from 3 AM Saturday to 6 AM EDT Sunday for
     ANZ534-537-543.
     Small Craft Advisory from noon to 6 PM EDT Saturday for ANZ536.

&&

SYNOPSIS...DHOF/KJP
NEAR TERM...DHOF/KJP
SHORT TERM...DHOF
LONG TERM...ADM
AVIATION...DHOF/ADM
MARINE...DHOF/ADM

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
552 PM EDT Fri Aug 28 2020

ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-292200-
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-
552 PM EDT Fri Aug 28 2020

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...Tonight

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8 PM for a majority
of the Washington and Baltimore Metropolitan Areas. The primary
threat is damaging winds and large hail.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 4 AM for much of the DC and
Baltimore metro areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Damaging wind gusts from organized severe thunderstorms are
possible on Saturday as the remnants of Laura move across the
region. An isolated instance of flooding is also possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is requested. Please report severe weather and
flooding to the National Weather Service according to standard
operational procedures.

MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053-
055-501>506-292200-
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-
552 PM EDT Fri Aug 28 2020

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...Tonight

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8 PM for portions
of central Maryland and northern Virginia. The primary threat is
damaging winds and large hail.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for portions of northern
Virginia until 4 AM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Damaging wind gusts from organized severe thunderstorms are
possible on Saturday as the remnants of Laura move across the
region. An isolated instance of flooding is also possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is requested. Please report severe weather and
flooding to the National Weather Service according to standard
operational procedures.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
618 PM EDT FRI AUG 28 2020

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

0605 PM     HAIL             3 S ARCOLA              38.91N  77.53W
08/28/2020  E0.75 INCH       LOUDOUN            VA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX2002262

MSS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
630 PM EDT FRI AUG 28 2020

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

0601 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE LANGLEY           38.92N  77.15W
08/28/2020                   FAIRFAX            VA   911 CALL CENTER

            DOWNED WIRES NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF KIRBY RD AND
            CHESTERBROOK RD.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX2002263

MSS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
632 PM EDT FRI AUG 28 2020

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

0620 PM     HAIL             1 SW FAIRFAX            38.85N  77.31W
08/28/2020  M0.75 INCH       FAIRFAX            VA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX2002264

KJP

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
723 PM EDT FRI AUG 28 2020

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

0629 PM     HAIL             1 W CAMP SPRINGS        38.80N  76.94W
08/28/2020  E0.88 INCH       PRINCE GEORGES     MD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX2002265

MSS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
726 PM EDT FRI AUG 28 2020

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

0629 PM     HAIL             1 W CAMP SPRINGS        38.80N  76.94W
08/28/2020  E1.75 INCH       PRINCE GEORGES     MD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX2002266

MSS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
736 PM EDT FRI AUG 28 2020

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

0418 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NNW DARLINGTON        39.68N  76.21W
08/28/2020                   HARFORD            MD   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREE DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF MD-623 NORTH/SOUTH AT
            GLEN COVE RD.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX2002267

MSS