Flooding and Damaging Wind in Maryland, January 14, 2005

Name: Flooding and Damaging Wind in Maryland, January 14, 2005
Start: 2005-01-14T05:30
End: 2005-01-14T11:30
Location: Maryland

January 14, 2005 · NWS LWX · 8 events in 7 counties and zones

7 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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 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 Jan 14, 5:05 AM EST, 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 14, 5:05 AM EST, 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
505 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

.UPDATE: WILL BE DROPPING THE TORNADO WATCH FOR ALL BUT LOWER
SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND KING GEORGE COUNTY. PRECIPITATION HAS
STABILIZED MAJORITY OF THE FORECAST AREA...WHILE BEST INSTABILITY
REMAINS ACROSS SOUTHEAST ZONES. PER COLLABORATION WITH SPC...THIS
NEW TORNADO WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT THROUGH 11:00 AM.

&&

.SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY):
...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7:00 AM FOR MUCH OF THE
DC METRO AREA/EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA/LOWER SOUTHERN MARYLAND...

WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL CONUS WHICH
WEDGES SOUTH INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO...WHILE A RIDGE DOMINATES THE
WESTERN ATLANTIC. VERY DRY AIR ALOFT IS SEEN PUSHING EAST-NORTHEAST
ACROSS THE GULF STATES. ACARS 400-250MB WIND OBSERVATIONS SHOW A
180-190KT SOUTHWESTERLY JET FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY
NORTHEAST THROUGH THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES...WHILE A 140KT JET DIVES
SOUTHEAST INTO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. 04Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACED A
COLD/STATIONARY BOUNDARY SOUTH THROUGH THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES AND
THE TENNESSEE VALLEY...WHILE A PREFRONTAL TROUGH WAS EVIDENT EAST OF
THE APPALACHIANS.

06Z KIAD SPECIAL RAOB TELLS THE STORY EARLY THIS MORNING WITH
PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUE OF 1.63 AND 722 M2/S2 OF 0-3KM HELICITY
OBSERVED. ACARS OBSERVATIONS FROM THE LATE EVENING SHOWED 80KTS AT
4KFT ABOVE BWI AND PHI (EVIDENCE OF STRONG DYNAMICS). STRONG
CONVERGENCE DUE TO A DEEP AND TIGHT BAROCLINIC ZONE REPOSITIONING
ITSELF EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CONVECTION
ABLE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN/WET MICROBURSTS AND POSSIBLY AN ISOLATED
TORNADO.

COLD AIR WILL BE FILTERING INTO THE REGION THROUGH THE DAY...CAUSING
TEMPERATURES TO TUMBLE. DEEP LAYER MOISTURE WILL BE PRESSING
NORTHEAST...WHILE DOWNSLOPE ACTS TO DRY THE LOWER LEVELS. EXPECTING
SOME UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE (SUPPORTED BY UPPER LEVEL JET) TO LINGER
THROUGH THE DAY. WINDS WILL BE GUSTY AT TIMES WITH TRANSPORT WIND
SPEEDS IN THE 30-35KT RANGE BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.

COMBINATION OF DRIER AIR MOVING INTO THE REGION AND CLEARING SKIES
WILL ALLOW FOR MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES TO SETTLE ACROSS THE REGION
OVERNIGHT. COOLER AND DRY WEATHER EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH
SATURDAY AS SURFACE HIGH ELONGATES EASTWARD AND TAKES A HOLD OF THE
REGION.

NO CHANGES BEYOND SATURDAY.

&&

.MARINE: WITH STRONG WINDS JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE AND APPROACH OF
CONVECTION...WILL MAINTAIN GALE WARNING. WATER TEMPERATURE OF 42F
WILL SUPPRESS WINDS FROM GUSTING MUCH BEYOND 35KT OUTSIDE OF
CONVECTION. WINDS VEER TO NW DURING THE LATE MORNING WITH FRONTAL
PASSAGE...AND SHOULD QUICKLY DIMINISH TO SMALL CRAFT CRITERIA.

&&

.AVIATION...CDFNT RDVLPG ACRS METRO TAFS ATTM...AND WL BE E OF AREA
BY 12Z...TAKING STRONG STORMS W/ IT. SCT LIGHTER ECHOES WL REMAIN
FOR ANTHR 4-6 HRS AFTR FROPA. FROM THAT PT ON...WND AND CIGS WL BE
THE TWO FACTORS AFFECTING TAFS. WND DIR WL BE NW...W/ 25-35 KT AVBL
TO MIX PER MDL SNDGS. WNDS WL SUBSIDE DRNG AFTN. XPCT MVFR-OCNL IFR
CIGS TO MIX OUR DRNG AFTN AS DWNSLOPE WORKS ITS MAGIC. VFR BY EVNG
AREAWIDE.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...NONE.
MD...NONE.
VA...NONE.
WV...NONE.
MARINE...GALE WARNING MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND
         TIDAL POTOMAC.

&&

SHORT TERM/MARINE FORECASTER: ROGOWSKI
AVIATION FORECASTER: HTS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 14, 5:26 AM EST, 4 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
526 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-
050>057-WVZ048>055-151030-
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-
526 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

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...
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 18 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM FOR
CALVERT...CHARLES...KING GEORGE...AND SAINT MARYS COUNTIES.
TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...AND A BRIEF TORNADO
TOUCHDOWN ALL POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

ELSEWHERE...TEMPERATURES WILL DROP THROUGH THE DAY AS A COLD FRONT
MOVES EAST OF THE AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

TEMPERATURES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY COLDER. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

THE SKYWARN SPOTTER NETWORK REMAINS ACTIVATED FOR SOUTHERN MARYLAND
AND KING GEORGE VIRGINIA.

HTS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 14, 3:08 AM EST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
308 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

DCZ001-MDZ006-007-009>011-013-014-016-VAZ039-041-042-050>057-141006-
ANNE ARUNDEL MD-ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-CHARLES MD-
CULPEPER VA-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-
HARFORD MD-HOWARD MD-KING GEORGE VA-LOUDOUN VA-MADISON VA-
MONTGOMERY MD-NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-ORANGE VA-PRINCE GEORGES MD-
PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD-
SPOTSYLVANIA VA-STAFFORD VA-
308 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE METRO AREAS...

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS FROM
CHARLOTTESVILLE... THROUGH STERLING...TO WESTMINSTER...WILL
CONTINUE MOVING EAST THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. THESE STORMS
WILL CROSS THE WESTERN SUBURBS OF BALTIMORE...WASHINGTON...AND
FREDERICKSBURG DURING THE 3 O CLOCK HOUR...AND WILL REACH THE CITIES
BY 4AM. THE LINE WILL THEN CONTINUE EAST ACROSS PRINCE
GEORGES...ANNE ARUNDEL...AND CHARLES COUNTIES THROUGH 5 AM.

EXPECT TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. HOURLY
RAINFALL OF ONE TO TWO INCHES WILL PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING. LOW
LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS WILL BE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE. IN
ADDITION...EXPECT CREEKS AND STREAMS TO RISE RAPIDLY.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA UNTIL 7 AM.
TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP FROM THUNDERSTORMS WILL LITTLE
ADVANCE NOTICE.

REMEMBER...IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE FLOODED ROADS AT NIGHT.
IF MOTORISTS ENCOUNTER WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY...TURN AROUND AND
FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. THE WATER MAY BE TOO DEEP TO CROSS SAFELY.

RESIDENTS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER...AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK A SAFE
LOCATION IF HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS THREATEN. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS UNSEASONABLE
SEVERE WEATHER EVENT.

HTS

Special weather statement, Jan 14, 3:55 AM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
355 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

VAZ036-037-141154-
ALBEMARLE VA-NELSON VA-
355 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 16 HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS MOVED EAST OF ALBEMARLE AND NELSON
COUNTIES...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED. PERIODS OF
HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE EARLY THIS MORNING...AND A FLOOD WARNING
REMAINS IN EFFECT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

MANNING

Special weather statement, Jan 14, 5:13 AM EST, 17 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
513 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

DCZ001-MDZ009-013-014-VAZ041-050>056-141115-
ANNE ARUNDEL MD-ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-CULPEPER VA-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-MONTGOMERY MD-
ORANGE VA-PRINCE GEORGES MD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-
SPOTSYLVANIA VA-STAFFORD VA-
513 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

...TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS MOVED EAST OF THE INTERSTATE 95
CORRIDOR...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED. HEAVY RAIN
WILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING...BUT SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT
ANTICIPATED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

MANNING

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Charles

When: January 14, 5:30 AM EST
Where: Charles County, Nanjemoy
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 38.450, -76.783

Trees and powerlines downed.

Flood, Frederick

When: January 14, 5:30 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Frederick forecast zone
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 39.472, -77.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water on several roads in the county.

Flood, Montgomery

When: January 14, 6:15 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 38.567, -76.583

Highway ramps underwater and other roads covered by high water.

Flood, Carroll

When: January 14, 6:30 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.450, -76.633

High water on several roads.

Flood, Northern Baltimore

When: January 14, 7:30 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Baltimore forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.443, -76.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water over roadways in the eastern end of the county.

Flood, Howard

When: January 14, 8:00 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where: Howard forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Few road closures near Savage.

Flood, Calvert

When: January 14, 9:45 AM EST to 11:30 AM EST
Where: Calvert forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 38.535, -76.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding reported in North Beach.

Flood, Charles

When: January 14, 9:45 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where: Charles forecast zone
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.474, -77.013 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooded roadways and creek flooding.

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.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maryland in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Maryland, January 2005

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: 5436663, 5436664, 5436759, 5436758, 5436760, 5436763, 5436761, 5436762.