Alert archive / Maryland / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 315, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 20, 2026Caroline County, Kent County, Queen Anne's County, Maryland; Kent County, Delaware

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 20, 2026, 5:40 PM EDT for Caroline County, Kent County, Queen Anne's County, Maryland; Kent County, Delaware. It was in force for 50 min. 14 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Aug 20, 2026, 5:40 PM EDT (21:40 UTC)
Expired: Aug 20, 2026, 6:30 PM EDT
In force: 50 min
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Possible
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Kent County, DE, Caroline County, MD, Kent County, MD, Queen Anne's County, MD

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 47 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:39 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Aug 20, 5:41 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 W Barclay, MD	A brief tornado occurred near Barclay, snapping and uprooting several softwood and hardwood trees in a wooded area next to a residence located near the intersection of Dell Foxx Rd and Barclay Rd. The tornado then moved east across a bean field and onto a resi
Aug 20, 5:41 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 W Barclay, MD	A brief tornado occurred near Barclay, snapping and uprooting several softwood and hardwood trees in a wooded area next to a residence located near the intersection of Dell Foxx Rd and Barclay Rd. The tornado then moved east across a bean field and onto a resi
Aug 20, 5:54 PM EDT	TORNADO	1 S Marydel, DE	A tornado occurred in Marydel beginning along the east side of Grygo Rd, about a quarter mile south of the intersection of Mahan Corner Rd, taking down several tree limbs near a residence. It then crossed Grygo Rd and uprooted two very large oak trees that fel
Aug 20, 5:57 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 N Templeville, MD	A few large trees down along Busic Church Road just north of Everett Road. The trees took down power lines, which also caused a power pole to break. Time estimated from radar.
Aug 20, 5:57 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 N Templeville, MD	A few large trees down along Busic Church Road just north of Everett Road. The trees took down power lines, which also caused a power pole to break. Time estimated from radar.
Aug 20, 5:59 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Se Hartly, DE	Metal roof panels blown off of a single wide mobile home along Route 8 near Crystal Road. No other notable damage nearby. Time estimated from radar.
Aug 20, 6:00 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 S Hartly, DE	Picture sent in where numerous trees were uprooted and some split off their base. Time estimated from radar.
Aug 20, 6:02 PM EDT	TORNADO	Hazlettville, DE	A brief tornado occurred just east of the community of Hazlettville, primarily impacting a farm and adjacent fields along Bryants Corner Road. The tornado began in a field just east of a residential area, evidenced by somewhat discontinuous swirl marks through
Aug 20, 6:02 PM EDT	TORNADO	Hazlettville, DE	A brief tornado occurred just east of the community of Hazlettville, primarily impacting a farm and adjacent fields along Bryants Corner Road. The tornado began in a field just east of a residential area, evidenced by somewhat discontinuous swirl marks through
Aug 20, 6:05 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Wnw Wyoming, DE	Report of mostly minor tree damage along Allabands Mill Road upstream of where the Dover tornado began. Several large tree branches down and wind damage to a large trailer. Radar data suggests this damaged occurred from the RFD surge just prior to tornadogenes
Aug 20, 6:09 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 N Wyoming, DE	A tornado formed over the open fields west of Wyoming Mill Rd near Riverside Rd, scarring the crops before moving to the tree line east of Wyoming Mill Rd, snapping several branches and tree tops. The tornado then made direct contact with the Dover Little Leag
Aug 20, 6:10 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Dover, DE	Lots of branches of different sizes, some over 2 foot diameter, down on multiple roads in the area. Time estimated from radar.
Aug 20, 6:10 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Marydel, DE	Downed tree, took down power pole and wires IAO 1900 blk of Busic Church Rd; time estimated from radar.
Aug 20, 6:15 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Dover, DE	Significant structural damage to the Kraft Food Facility. Tornado possible. Time estimated from radar.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 8 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 17 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Aug 20, 2:31 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr
Aug 20, 2:58 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 153 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 97 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -72 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1192 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 115 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 230 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: -0.0
Supercell composite: -0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

256 
WUUS51 KPHI 202140
SVRPHI
DEC001-MDC011-029-035-202230-
/O.NEW.KPHI.SV.W.0315.260820T2140Z-260820T2230Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
Issued by National Weather Service New York NY
540 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Kent County in central Delaware...
  Northeastern Queen Anne's County in northeastern Maryland...
  Northeastern Caroline County in eastern Maryland...
  Northeastern Kent County in northeastern Maryland...

* Until 630 PM EDT.

* At 539 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Church Hill,
  or 9 miles northeast of Centerville, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

* Locations impacted include...
  Dover, Smyrna, Centreville, Camden, Clayton, Greensboro, Oakland,
  Cheswold, Church Hill, Millington, Sudlersville, Bowers, Goldsboro,
  Woodside, and Viola.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for central and
northern Delaware...and eastern and northeastern Maryland.

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for central and
northern Delaware...and eastern and northeastern Maryland.

&&

LAT...LON 3930 7599 3930 7569 3929 7568 3929 7565
      3930 7564 3930 7541 3922 7538 3912 7538
      3894 7541 3898 7606
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 268DEG 31KT 3913 7593 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

DeSilva

1 follow-up statement

706 
WWUS51 KPHI 202202
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
Issued by National Weather Service New York NY
602 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

MDC029-202211-
/O.CAN.KPHI.SV.W.0315.000000T0000Z-260820T2230Z/
Kent MD-
602 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN KENT COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for central
Delaware...and eastern and northeastern Maryland.

LAT...LON 3926 7586 3924 7581 3925 7576 3928 7576
      3926 7540 3923 7538 3911 7538 3894 7541
      3894 7543 3897 7592
TIME...MOT...LOC 2201Z 272DEG 44KT 3910 7562 

$$

DEC001-MDC011-035-202230-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0315.000000T0000Z-260820T2230Z/
Kent DE-Queen Anne's MD-Caroline MD-
602 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT
FOR KENT...NORTHEASTERN QUEEN ANNE'S AND NORTHEASTERN CAROLINE
COUNTIES...

At 601 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hazlettville,
or near Dover, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

Locations impacted include...
Dover, Camden, Greensboro, Oakland, Cheswold, Millington,
Sudlersville, Bowers, Goldsboro, Woodside, Viola, Hartly, Rising
Sun-Lebanon, Hazlettville, and Dover Base Housing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for central
Delaware...and eastern and northeastern Maryland.

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3926 7586 3924 7581 3925 7576 3928 7576
      3926 7540 3923 7538 3911 7538 3894 7541
      3894 7543 3897 7592
TIME...MOT...LOC 2201Z 272DEG 44KT 3910 7562 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

DeSilva

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 Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 20, 4:23 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

1. A cold front will cross the region this evening, resulting in widespread showers and thunderstorms. Flash flooding, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes are possible later today. 2. Conditions look to remain unsettled through the weekend, with daily chances of showers and storms each day. 3. Fair weather is expected to return for early next week.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 4:23 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
423 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Severe thunderstorm and tornado watches now in effect for most
of the forecast area.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1. A cold front will cross the region this evening, resulting
in widespread showers and thunderstorms. Flash flooding,
damaging wind gusts and tornadoes are possible later today.

2. Conditions look to remain unsettled through the
weekend, with daily chances of showers and storms each day.

3. Fair weather is expected to return for early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Broad troughing will be the main driving force
in the sensible weather into the early to middle part of next
week across much of the Eastern Seaboard. A shortwave will round
the base of the trough today into this evening providing some
mid level synoptic forcing. At the surface a warm front has
lifted north into the Philadelphia metro area with a cold front
approaching from the west.

The trend for increasing QPF and increasing severe weather
potential is being realized this afternoon. Severe thunderstorm,
tornado, and flood watches are in effect for most of the
forecast area.

Mesoanalysis fields this afternoon show moderate to strong
instability centered roughly around the Delmarva peninsula, but
extending north into southern NJ and southeast PA. Deep layer
shear of 40-60kt along with backed low level flow and strongly
curved hodographs will support a tornado risk, most notably from
the Philadelphia metro area and points south. Primary mode at
the moment is supercellular with all attendant risks, but more
multicell clusters may become the primary mode along the cold
front.

The other threat this evening is the potential for flash
flooding. Guidance shows very moisture rich airmass surging into
the region with PWAT values raching 2-2.5 inches. Warm cloud
depths suggest warm rain processes and high precipitation
efficiency into this evening and WPC has introduced a moderate
risk of execessive reainfall from Philadelphia north and east.

In general, expecting anywhere between 1 to 2 inches of rain to
fall, with localized higher amounts up to 3 to 5 inches.

The severe and flooding rain threat will diminish by the late
evening and overnight hours.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Conditions look to remain unsettled through the
weekend, with daily chances of showers and storms each day.

Mid to long range NWP and AI guidance suggests that the pattern
could become unsettled Friday night and into the weekend.
The cold front crossing the area tonight will stall in the
offshore waters. waves of low pressure will ride along the
stalled front resulting in unsettled weather through the
weekend. The main periods to watch are early Saturday through
Saturday evening, with periods of rain increasingly likely, and
again on Sunday. The severe threat appears low at this time but
there could be additional flooding concerns, although no day
has more than a Marginal (1/5) Risk for excessive rainfall.

Temperatures will be seasonable, but humidity will be
uncomfortable.

KEY MESSAGE 3...Fair weather is expected to return for early
next week.

Weak high pressure looks to bring quieter and drier weather in
the early part of the week, with more unsettled conditions
expected later in the week with seasonable temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG,
KILG, KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas.

Today...Widespread showers and thunderstorms are likely at all
locations this afternoon and evening. Any storms will be
capable of producing very heavy rainfall and LIFR conditions.
Winds will vary depending on location, with northern terminals
experiencing northeast winds 5 to 10 kt where southern
terminals will encounter southeasterly winds around 10 kt. Winds
will be gusty and erratic near any storm. Bulk of the shower and
storm activity ending around 01-02z. Moderate confidence
overall, but low confidence on exact timing details.

Tonight...Sub-VFR conditions probable at times with showers and
thunderstorms continuing into the evening hours. Fog and/or low
stratus possible at night after the precipitation moves out.
Conditions should lift back to VFR near or not long after
daybreak. North/northeast winds around 5 to 10 kt. Moderate
confidence.

Outlook...

Friday through Friday night...Primarily VFR.

Saturday through Sunday...Periods of VFR and sub-VFR at times.
Restrictions expected with daily chances for showers and
thunderstorms.

Monday...VFR. No significant weather expected.

&&

.MARINE...
A cold front will move through tonight, with winds becoming
more north/northeasterly around 10-15 kt. Seas of 2 to 3 feet.
Showers and thunderstorms expected on the waters this evening
into tonight.

Outlook...

Friday through Monday...No marine headlines expected. Showers
and thunderstorms possible during the day Friday through
Sunday.

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Friday for PAZ054-055-060>062-070-
     071-101>106.
NJ...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Friday for NJZ001-007>010-012>022-
     025>027.
DE...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Friday for DEZ001.
MD...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Manning
AVIATION...Manning
MARINE...Manning

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 5:12 AM EDT, 12 hours 28 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
512 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

MDZ012-015-019-020-210915-
Kent MD-Queen Annes-Talbot-Caroline-
512 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Maryland.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Numerous thunderstorms are expected between about 2 PM and 8 PM. These
storms may contain damaging wind gusts and potentially a couple of
tornadoes over the Eastern Shore. Storms will be capable of producing
heavy rainfall, with rainfall rates of 2 to 4" per hour possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

Hoeflich

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 20, 4:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
438 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

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

0400 PM     Rain             2 SW Stow Creek Twp     39.44N 75.38W
08/20/2026  M3.03 Inch       Cumberland         NJ   Mesonet

            NJNET Greenwich station reported 3.03 inches
            of rainfall in two hours.

&&

MJL

Local storm report, Aug 20, 4:47 PM EDT, 53 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
447 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

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

0400 PM     Rain             2 S Smyrna Landing      39.28N 75.58W
08/20/2026  M1.92 Inch       Kent               DE   Mesonet

            DEOS Smyrna recorded 1.92 inches of rain
            over 3 hours from 1-4pm.

&&

MJL

Local storm report, Aug 20, 5:38 PM EDT, 2 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
538 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

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

0538 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     East Nantmeal Twp       40.12N 75.72W
08/20/2026                   Chester            PA   Public

            Trees down.

&&

PF

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 20, 2:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Kent, Queen Anne's	32 min
Aug 20, 5:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot	40 min
Aug 20, 5:30 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Kent, Queen Anne's	30 min
Aug 20, 5:39 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Queen Anne's	36 min
Aug 20, 6:21 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Caroline, Queen Anne's, Talbot	39 min
Aug 20, 6:53 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PHI	Caroline, Queen Anne's	105 min
Aug 20, 6:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Caroline, Talbot	48 min
Aug 20, 4:16 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Kent	29 min
Aug 20, 4:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	PHI	New Castle	40 min
Aug 20, 5:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	PHI	New Castle	48 min
Aug 20, 5:39 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	New Castle	4 hr
Aug 20, 6:03 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Kent	42 min
Aug 20, 6:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Kent, New Castle	51 min
Aug 20, 6:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	New Castle	47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Maryland, 2026 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Delaware, 2026 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.