Strong winds occurred along and behind a cold front across the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS AKQ wrote it up.
Strong winds occurred along and behind a cold front across the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.
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 Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 8, 3:07 PM EST, 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
307 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST TOWARD NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL RETURN FOR LATE TONIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT
WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/...
THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE WELL OFF THE COAST THIS EVENING ENDING
THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS OVER THE NORTHEAST. AS THE UPPER
LOW MOVES THROUGH TO THE WEST A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS MIGHT OCCUR THIS
EVENING.
FINALLY BY MIDNIGHT THE DOWNSLOPE WINDS WIN AND SKIES WILL BECOME
CLEAR OVER THE CWA. ALL MODELS SHOW GOOD MIXING OF LOWEST LAYER
UNTIL MIDNIGHT ALLOWING STRONG WIND GUSTS TO CONTINUE INTO THE
EVENING. PLENTY OF COLD AIR TO THE W AND TEMPERATURES LOOK
REASONABLE IN MOS.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY/...
FINALLY SOME QUIET WEATHER THROUGH MONDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS
OVER THE REGION FROM THE SOUTHWEST. ALL MODELS LOOK SIMILAR. THE
NEXT FEATURE IS AN UPPER LEVEL TROF WHICH MOVES BY JUST N OF THE
CWA MONDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL SPREAD SOME CLOUDS BUT ALL MODELS SHOW
IT N OF THE AREA WITH ANY PRECIP BEING TO THE N AS WELL SO SHOULD
STAY DRY. MOS TEMPS LOOK GOOD THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH ONLY SOME
LOCAL CHANGES APPLIED.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
MAINTAINING DRY WX FM TUE NGT THRU THU...AS HI PRES BLDS ACRS THE
REGION THEN OFF THE CST. MIN TEMPS IN THE LWR 30S TO LWR 40S...AND
MAX TEMPS WILL GENERALLY RANGE FM THE MID 50S TO MID 60S FOR WED
AND THU. A WRM FRNT FOLLOWED BY A COLD FRNT (WITH POSSIBLY LO PRES
ALNG IT) WILL AFFECT THE AREA LATE THU NGT INTO ERLY SAT MORNG.
FOR NOW WILL INCLUDE SLGT OR SML CHC FOR SHRAS DURING THIS PERIOD.
DRY WX LIKELY WITH SUNSHINE FOR LATER SAT MORNG ONWARD. MAX TEMPS
WILL RANGE FM THE LWR 50S TO LWR 60S FRI AND SAT...WITH MINS IN
THE UPR 30S TO UPR 40S.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
STRONG WINDS HAVE BUFFETED THE REGION AS LOW PRES SYS MOVES NORTH
OF THE AREA AND COLD FRONT PUSHES OUT TO SEA. WINDS 15-25 KT GUSTING
UP TO 40 KT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SUNSET...THEN BECOME SW-W 15 TO 20
KT THRU THE NIGHT. CHC OF TSTMS STILL PSBL FOR ORF/PHF/SBY THRU
THE LATE AFTN/EARLY EVENING. IFR/MVFR CONDS IN TSTMS BUT OTW CONDS
WILL GENERALLY IMPROVE TO VFR THRU THE AFTN AND SKIES WILL CLR
TONIGHT. HIGH PRES BUILDS IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST FOR SUN AND MON
AND GOOD VFR WEATHER EXPECTED.
&&
.MARINE...
GALE FORCE WINDS HAVE BEEN REALIZED OVER OUR WATERS (BAY AND
COASTAL) IN AND OUT OF ANY CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. EXPECT THE
STRONGEST WINDS TO COME AROUND OR JUST AFTER SUNSET...SO GALE
WARNINGS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT. AS THE LOW PULLS OFF TO THE NE
QUICKLY OVERNIGHT...WINDS SHOULD DIMINISH RAPIDLY ALTHOUGH SEAS
OFFSHORE MAY BE A LITTLE SLOWER TO COME DOWN (ALTHOUGH NOT TOO
SLOW AS IT IS AN OFFSHORE WIND). HAVE EXTENDED THE GALE FOR THE
OFFSHORE WATERS BY A FEW HRS...THE BAY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DROP DOWN
TO AN SCA JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT BASED ON GOOD MODEL CONSENSUS. SCA
CONDS AFTERWARDS WILL LIKELY LINGER THROUGH MIDDAY TOMORROW (EVNG
OFFSHORE DUE TO SEAS).
WINDS LOOK TO REMAIN BELOW SCA CRITERIA THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE
WORK WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS OVERHEAD AND ONLY A FEW UPR LVL
SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH OVERHEAD WHICH MAY BRIEFLY INCREASE WINDS TO
AROUND 15-20KTS.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
WINDS SHIFT TO THE WEST (OFFSHORE) LATE TONIGHT AND REMAIN PRETTY
STRONG AT LEAST THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HRS. LOW TIDE AT OCEAN
CITY OCCURS AT ABOUT 3:30AM (AFTER THE WINDS SHIFT) SO TIDE LEVELS
ARE FCST TO BE ABOUT OR SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 2 FT BELOW NORMAL.
WITH STRONGER WINDS IN OUR NORTHERN WATERS...LOOKS LIKE THE OCEAN
CITY AREA IS THE ONLY LOCATION THAT WILL SEE THIS HOWEVER...ALL
OTHER FCSTS CALL FOR JUST ONE TO LESS THAN TWO FEET BELOW NORMAL.
WILL ISSUE A LOW WATER ADVISORY THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW
MORNING...ALTHOUGH MIDNIGHT SHIFT MAY HAVE TO EXTEND IT IF THE
FCST STILL CALLS FOR RIGHT AT 2FT BLO NORMAL FOR THE LOW TIDE
CYCLE IN THE AFTN.
&&
.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR MDZ021>025.
NC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR NCZ012>017-
030>032-102.
VA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR VAZ048-049-
060>100.
MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR ANZ650-652-654-656-658.
LOW WATER ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR ANZ650.
GALE WARNING UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY FOR ANZ630>633.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JAB
NEAR TERM...JAB
SHORT TERM...JAB
LONG TERM...TMG
AVIATION...JEF
MARINE...JYM
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...JYMHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 259 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ANZ652-654-656-658-092000- COASTAL WATERS FROM CHINCOTEAGUE TO PARRAMORE ISLAND VA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM PARRAMORE ISLAND TO CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA TO NC VA BORDER OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM NC VA BORDER TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NC OUT 20 NM- 259 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>100-092000- DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES- NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK- BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-FLUVANNA-LOUISA- PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE-MECKLENBURG- LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO-KING WILLIAM- KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND-NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER- BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE-CHARLES CITY-NEW KENT-GLOUCESTER- MIDDLESEX-MATHEWS-GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX-SURRY-JAMES CITY-YORK- SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH- SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE-VIRGINIA BEACH-ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON VA- 259 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND...COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...THE NORTHERN OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...INTERIOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA...THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF VIRGINIA...THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA...THE PENINSULA OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. ANZ650-092000- COASTAL WATERS FROM FENWICK ISLAND DE TO CHINCOTEAGUE VA OUT 20 NM- 259 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY... ...LOW WATER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING LOW WATER ADVISORY .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LOW WATER ADVISORY .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. ANZ630>633-092000- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SMITH POINT TO WINDMILL POINT VA- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM WINDMILL POINT TO NEW POINT COMFORT VA- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NEW POINT COMFORT TO CAPE HENRY VA- CURRITUCK SOUND- 259 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY AND CURRITUCK SOUND. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. MCNATT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 100 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 NCZ013-014-VAZ089-092-093-096-081900- GATES NC-HERTFORD NC-ISLE OF WIGHT VA-SOUTHAMPTON VA-SUFFOLK VA-SURRY VA- 100 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND INTO SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND THE WESTERN TIDEWATER AREA... AT 100 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF WINDSOR...MOVING NORTH AT 45 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR PONS AND...RAYNOR AT 105 PM EST...DELK CROSSROADS AND...BACONS CASTLE AT 110 PM EST... CHIPPOKES STATE PARK AND...ALLIANCE AT 115 PM EST. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND POSSIBLE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. MCNATT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 114 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 VAZ084>086-090-091-094-081915- GLOUCESTER VA-JAMES CITY VA-MATHEWS VA-MIDDLESEX VA-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON VA-YORK VA- 114 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO THE PENINSULA AND MIDDLE PENINSULA... AT 114 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER QUEENS LAKE...MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR GLOUCESTER COURTHOUSE...AND... BELROI AT 120 PM EST...HARCUM...AND...DUTTON AT 125 PM EST... GRAFTON...AND...HARTFIELD AT 130 PM EST. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND POSSIBLE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. MCNATT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 119 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 VAZ073>076-081900- ESSEX VA-KING AND QUEEN VA-RICHMOND VA-WESTMORELAND VA- 119 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MIDDLE PENINSULA AND INTO THE NORTHERN NECK... AT 119 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CHAMPLAIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR FONESWOOD...AND...PEEDS AT 125 PM EST...WESTMORELAND STATE PARK...AND...LERTY AT 130 PM EST. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND POSSIBLE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. MCNATT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 210 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 MDZ021>025-VAZ099-100-082030- ACCOMACK VA-DORCHESTER MD-INLAND WORCESTER MD-MARYLAND BEACHES MD-NORTHAMPTON VA-SOMERSET MD-WICOMICO MD- 210 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING QUICKYLY TO THE NORTHEAST... AT 210 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRISFIELD TO 21 MILES SOUTH OF CAPE CHARLES...OR FROM 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRISFIELD TO 7 MILES EAST OF OCEAN VIEW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... CRISFIELD AROUND 225 PM EST... EXMORE AROUND 230 PM EST... PRINCESS ANNE AROUND 240 PM EST... FRUITLAND AROUND 245 PM EST... SALISBURY AROUND 250 PM EST... CHINCOTEAGUE AROUND 310 PM EST... WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND POSSIBLE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. WAMSLEY
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
304 PM EST SAT MAR 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 PM TSTM WND DMG BOWLING GREEN 38.05N 77.35W
03/08/2008 CAROLINE VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LARGE TREE REPORTED KNOCKED DOWN.
0130 PM TSTM WND DMG SPARTA 37.99N 77.23W
03/08/2008 CAROLINE VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTS OF LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN.
&&
WAMSLEYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
342 PM EST SAT MAR 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0140 PM TSTM WND DMG STUDLEY 37.68N 77.29W
03/08/2008 HANOVER VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY
0131 PM TSTM WND DMG MONTROSE 37.52N 77.38W
03/08/2008 HENRICO VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
WIDESPREAD TREES DOWN AND POWER OUTAGES
0158 PM TSTM WND DMG BARNETTS 37.37N 77.16W
03/08/2008 CHARLES CITY VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN ALONG RTE 5
&&
JFOSTERThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Wind gust of 39 knots (45 mph) was measured at OXB.
Wind gust of 42 knots (48 mph) was measured at SBY.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, March 2008
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: 89544, 89543.