Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025

Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Baltimore/Washington

May 5, 2025Loudoun County, Virginia; Jefferson County, West Virginia

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this flash flood warning at May 5, 2025, 8:33 PM EDT for Loudoun County, Virginia; Jefferson County, West Virginia. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 5, 2025, 8:33 PM EDT (00:33 UTC)
Expired
May 5, 2025, 10:41 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Baltimore/Washington
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Loudoun County, VA, Jefferson County, WV

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:35 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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 242 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2025-05-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 365 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2025-05-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 152 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
365 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-51 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1006 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
152 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
148 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
6.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at May 5, 2:54 PM EDT, 5 hours 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 5, 2:54 PM EDT, 5 hours 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
254 PM EDT Mon May 5 2025

.SYNOPSIS...

A cold front will slowly progress eastward across the region
through Tuesday, then pull offshore Tuesday night. High pressure
will follow briefly for Wednesday. A potent cold front is expected
to move southeast from the eastern Great Lakes to and across the
Mid-Atlantic late in the week. High pressure will likely follow
through the upcoming weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...

Isolated severe t-storms will be possible over the next couple
of hours with current scattered activity across the area.
However, it appears the main severe wx potential over the next
12 hours will be tied to the line of convection forming near
Raleigh NC. Shortwave-trough lifting from southwest VA into
western VA and low-level convergence are expected to encourage
more widespread convection early this evening. Latest HREF
fields suggest a broken to solid line of thunderstorms forming
from near Frederick MD south to Fredericksburg. Given cooling
aloft and some rotation already seen on radar, a tornado and
hail threat exist, especially given that shear profiles are
expected to strengthen. The main window for severe wx potential
looks to be between 21Z-02Z.

Convection is expected to weaken or lift north into Pennsylvania
after 02Z.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...

Upper low will be lifting into PA Tue with main focus of t-storm
activity shifting more to the east, but still with sct showers
and/or t-storms possible. With less instability available,
severe wx risk seems lower. Trough axis will shift east of the
area late Tue night with drying expected.

Shortwave ridging will build in Wed afternoon and evening
supporting generally fair weather, although isolated to widely
scattered showers or sprinkles can't completely be ruled out.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...

A cut off upper level low will be exiting the regions towards New
England on Thursday as another closed low and upper level trough
pivot towards and across the region on Friday. The upper level
trough will push a cold front through the forecast area on Thursday,
with the front forecast to be located draped across the Carolina's
on Friday. The proximity of the front will lead to daily
shower and thunderstorm chances to end out the work week.

For the weekend, high pressure from the northwest builds over the
region. Primarily dry conditions can be expected Saturday and
Sunday, however, a stray shower cannot be ruled out each afternoon
during peak daytime heating.

Temperatures on Thursday will be in the 70s for most with those at
higher elevations staying in the 60s. In the wake of the cold front
on Friday, high temperatures will be 60s (50s mtns) with only those
in the southernmost portions of the area and in the metros reaching
the 70s. Temperatures gradually warm over the weekend under high
pressure with highs on Sunday reaching the mid to upper 70s.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...

Nmrs to widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms are
expected mainly in the 22Z-02Z time frame. Freq lightning and
small hail are the primary threats. Isolated large is possible.
Less convective coverage expected Tue. Fair weather Wednesday.

Showers and thunderstorms may lead to sub-VFR conditions on
Thursday and Friday as a cold front approaches and moves through
the area. Outside of any precipitation, VFR conditions are
expected across all terminals both Thursday and Friday.

&&

.MARINE...

Freq lightning will be the main threat today through Tue with
scattered t-storms. SMWs may be required.

Northwest winds are expected both Thursday and Friday in the wake of
a cold front. Winds will likely stay below SCA criteria on Thursday.
Winds near but are expected to stay below SCA criteria Friday
afternoon.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...None.
VA...None.
WV...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...LFR
NEAR TERM...LFR
SHORT TERM...LFR
LONG TERM...AVS
AVIATION...AVS/LFR
MARINE...AVS/LFR
Hazardous weather outlook, May 5, 8:02 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
802 PM EDT Mon May 5 2025

ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508-
VAZ053>057-527-070015-
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-Cecil-Southern Baltimore-
Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-
Central and Southeast Montgomery-Central and Southeast Howard-
Southeast Harford-Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-
Stafford-Spotsylvania-King George-
Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-
802 PM EDT Mon May 5 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Maryland portion of the
Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through
central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until midnight for the
outlook area with the exception of Cecil and Spotsylvania Counties.

Locally heavy rainfall could result in isolated instances of
flooding through this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

MDZ003>006-503-505-507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501-502-505>508-
526-WVZ050>053-055-070015-
Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-
Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard-Northwest Harford-Augusta-
Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke-Nelson-
Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-
Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-
Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Central Virginia Blue Ridge-Northwest Prince William-Hampshire-
Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-
802 PM EDT Mon May 5 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern West
Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and central and western
Maryland.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until midnight for
portions of northern Virginia, far eastern West Virginia, and
central Maryland.

Locally heavy rainfall could result in isolated instances of
flooding through this evening, mainly in northern Virginia and
central Maryland.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

MDZ501-502-509-510-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-070015-
Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany-
Western Garrett-Eastern Garrett-Western Highland-Eastern Highland-
Western Grant-Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-
Western Pendleton-Eastern Pendleton-
802 PM EDT Mon May 5 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Allegheny Front
counties in western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and Highland
County Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

An isolated severe thunderstorm with large hail and damaging winds
is possible through this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

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, May 5, 7:51 PM EDT, 42 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
751 PM EDT Mon May 05 2025

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

0638 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Nanjemoy                38.45N  77.22W
05/05/2025                   Charles            MD   911 Call Center

            One tree down in Nanjemoy.

&&

Event Number LWX2504654

BELAK
Local storm report, May 5, 7:56 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 5, 8:19 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
819 PM EDT Mon May 05 2025

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

0819 PM     Flood            King George             38.27N  77.18W
05/05/2025                   King George        VA   911 Call Center

            Kings Highway at Stanley Road closed due to high water.

&&

Event Number LWX2504656

BELAK
Local storm report, May 5, 8:20 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
820 PM EDT Mon May 05 2025

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

0556 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     King George             38.27N  77.18W
05/05/2025                   King George        VA   911 Call Center

            Six calls for trees down throughout the county.

&&

Event Number LWX2504657

BELAK
Local storm report, May 5, 8:25 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
825 PM EDT Mon May 05 2025

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

0643 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 W Dumfries            38.56N  77.39W
05/05/2025                   Prince William     VA   911 Call Center

            Several trees down on Joplin Road.

&&

Event Number LWX2504658

BELAK
Local storm report, May 5, 8:33 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
833 PM EDT Mon May 05 2025

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

0657 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Dale City               38.65N  77.34W
05/05/2025                   Prince William     VA   911 Call Center

            Multiple trees down on south side of Dale City near
            Cardinal Drive.

&&

Event Number LWX2504659

BELAK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 5, 8:23 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX97 min
May 6, 3:46 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryLWX16 hr
May 5, 10:34 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningLWXFrederick3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2025Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2025Every flash flood warning in 2025

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.