Damaging Winds in Maryland, May 7, 2004

Name: Damaging Winds in Maryland, May 7, 2004
Start: 2004-05-07T19:04
End: 2004-05-07T19:38
Location: Maryland

May 7, 2004 · NWS LWX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved through the region on the afternoon of May 7th. Scattered showers and thunderstorms ahead of the frontcaused widespread damage across lower Southern Maryland.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $8,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

A strong cold front moved through the region on the afternoon of May 7th. Scattered showers and thunderstorms ahead of the frontcaused widespread damage across lower Southern Maryland.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at May 7, 3:20 PM EST, 3 hours 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 7, 3:20 PM EST, 3 hours 44 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
320 PM EST FRI MAY 7 2004

.MESOSCALE DISCUSSION:
AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY STRETCHING ACROSS THE METRO AREA IS THE RESULT
OF A BOW ECHO WHICH STRATIFIED ACROSS SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA.
REGIONAL RADAR INDICATES THE NEXT COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS
APPROACHING FROM THE OHIO VALLEY.

18Z MESOANALYSIS PLACES THE COLD FRONT ACROSS WEST CENTRAL WEST
VIRGINIA...EAST ACROSS THE MASON-DIXON LINE AND NORTHEAST INTO NEW
YORK STATE. THE OUTFLOW WAS PLACED ACROSS THE WASHINGTON METRO AREA.
18Z IAD SOUNDING INDICATES A WEAK CAP ATOP THE BOUNDARY LAYER.
CURRENT THINKING IS THIS WILL WEAKEN DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AS
THE SUN ANGLE LOWERS...AND MIDLEVEL LIFT FROM THE APPROACHING
COMPLEX ARRIVES. EXPECT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE COMPLEX LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING...WITH THE MAIN COMPLEX PRESENTING AN ENHANCED THREAT FOR
WIND DAMAGE...AS IT CROSSES THE SOUTHERN FORECAST AREA.

PWATS NEAR 1.4 WILL ALLOW HEAVY RAIN TO BE A CONCERN WITH ANY DEEP
CONVECTION. WOULD EXPECT PRIMARY AREA OF CONCERN FOR WIND DAMAGE
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PAN HANDLE OF WV/CENTRAL VA/LOWER SOUTHERN
MARYLAND BETWEEN 4:30 PM IN THE WEST AND AROUND SUNSET ACROSS LOWER
SOUTHERN MARYLAND.

ROGOWSKI

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY):
...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE EVENING...

WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS AN UPPER LOW OVER THE HUDSON BAY REGION...AS
A RIDGE DOMINATES THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST CONUS. ACARS 400-250MB
WIND SPEED OBSERVATIONS REVEAL AN UPPER LEVEL JET BETWEEN THESE TWO
FEATURES ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES AND NEW ENGLAND REGION. 11Z SURFACE
ANALYSIS SHOWS 1029MB HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING ACROSS THE GREAT
LAKES...AS A COLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY STRETCHES FROM CENTRAL ILLINOIS
EAST AND NORTH INTO NEW ENGLAND.

FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS PROGGED TO SAG SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA
OVERNIGHT...WITH BUFKIT FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATING EASTERLY FLOW
OFF THE ATLANTIC LATE TONIGHT. MARINE INFLUENCE WILL LIKELY SERVE TO
ADVECT CLOUDS BACK INTO THE REGION FROM THE EAST.

MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW A MARINE LAYER ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA
SATURDAY...LIMITING INSTABILITY. EXPECT POSSIBLE LIGHT SHOWERS OR
SPRINKLES AND MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES. SOME CONVECTION IS
ANTICIPATED ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES
TOMORROW AS WARM ADVECTION INCREASES TO OUR WEST AND NORTH.

ROGOWSKI

&&

.LONG TERM SAT NGT THROUGH FRI...
LOOKS LIKE COOL AIR DAMMING WILL PERSIST INTO EARLY SUNDAY. FNT
MOVES N OF AREA DRG DAY AND SWLY FLOW SETTLES IN. MOISTURE LVLS ARE
LOW BUT WE DO DESTABILIZE IN THE AFTN. WILL KEEP SLGT CHC MENTIONED
IN GRIDS. TEMPS SHD BE MUCH HIGHER SUNDAY VERSUS SATURDAY SINCE
WELL BE IN THE WARM SECTOR.

ZONAL FLOW BECOMES SWLY THRU THE WEEK AS H5 RDG BUILDS OVER ERN U.S.
BY LATE IN THE WEEK. FNTL BOUNDARIES FCST N OF CWA. AS A RESULT WILL
HAVE NO MENTION OF PRECIP DRG THE MID AND LONG TERM PTN OF THE ZFP.
CANT COMPLETELY RULE OUT SOME CONVECTION EACH DAY...BUT LACK OF A
FOCUS SHD KEEP COVERAGE MINIMAL.

RDH

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, May 7, 9:34 AM EST, 9 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1034 AM EDT FRI MAY 7 2004

DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-
050>057-WVZ048>055-081500-
ALBEMARLE VA-ALLEGANY MD-ANNE ARUNDEL MD-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-AUGUSTA VA-BERKELEY WV-
CALVERT MD-CARROLL MD-CHARLES MD-CLARKE VA-CULPEPER VA-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-FREDERICK VA-
FREDERICK MD-GRANT WV-GREENE VA-HAMPSHIRE WV-HARDY WV-HARFORD MD-
HIGHLAND VA-HOWARD MD-JEFFERSON WV-KING GEORGE VA-LOUDOUN VA-
MADISON VA-MINERAL WV-MONTGOMERY MD-MORGAN WV-NELSON VA-
NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-ORANGE VA-PAGE VA-PENDLETON WV-
PRINCE GEORGES MD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-
RAPPAHANNOCK VA-ROCKINGHAM VA-SHENANDOAH VA-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD-
SPOTSYLVANIA VA-ST. MARYS MD-STAFFORD VA-WARREN VA-WASHINGTON MD-

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MARYLAND WEST OF THE CHESAPEAKE
BAY AND EAST OF GARRETT COUNTY...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA...NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON DC.

.DAY ONE...
AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG AND
AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY
RAIN...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON.

ROGOWSKI

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 7, 4:33 PM EST, 2 hours 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
533 PM EDT FRI MAY 07 2004

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

0525 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PETERSBURG              39.00N 79.31W
05/07/2004                   GRANT              WV

            TREES DOWN IN COUNTY
&&

RDH

Local storm report, May 7, 5:36 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
636 PM EDT FRI MAY 07 2004

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

0629 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 E WARRENTON           38.72N 77.70W
05/07/2004                   FAUQUIER           VA   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN

&&

RDH

Local storm report, May 7, 6:29 PM EST, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
729 PM EDT FRI MAY 07 2004

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

0724 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SE FREDERICKSBURG     38.25N 77.42W
05/07/2004                   SPOTSYLVANIA       VA   AMATEUR RADIO

            WINDS ESTIMATED 60 MPH ALONG ROUTE 3.

&&

RDH

Local storm report, May 7, 6:42 PM EST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
742 PM EDT FRI MAY 07 2004

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

0724 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S FREDERICKSBURG      38.26N 77.49W
05/07/2004                   SPOTSYLVANIA       VA   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN ON ROUTE 1.

&&

RDH

Local storm report, May 7, 6:42 PM EST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
742 PM EDT FRI MAY 07 2004

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

0735 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S FREDERICKSBURG      38.26N 77.49W
05/07/2004                   SPOTSYLVANIA       VA   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN ON ROUTE 1.

&&

RDH

Local storm report, May 7, 7:03 PM EST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
803 PM EDT FRI MAY 07 2004

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

0746 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 W KING GEORGE         38.27N 77.28W
05/07/2004                   KING GEORGE        VA   AMATEUR RADIO

            6 TO 8 INCH DIAMETER TREES DOWN ON ROUTE 607 AND 608.

&&

RDH

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:06 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Charles

When: May 7, 7:04 PM EST
Where: Charles County, 5 mi NW of La Plata
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.583, -77.050

Trees down around Pomfret.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Mary'S

When: May 7, 7:38 PM EST
Where: St. Mary'S County, 2 mi N of Coltons Pt
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.250, -76.767

Trees down in Avenue.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maryland in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Maryland, May 2004

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5397433, 5397434.