A cold front moved south across the Mid Atlantic on May 31st. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of the cold front.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 LWX wrote it up.
A cold front moved south across the Mid Atlantic on May 31st. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of the cold front. Several of these storms became severe, producing damaging winds that downed trees and power lines and large hail over an inch in diameter.
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 31, 9:34 AM EST, 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1034 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 .SYNOPSIS... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT TODAY. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE. THE FRONT WILL MOVE EAST OF THE BAY THIS EVENING. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE THROUGH ON SUNDAY. HIGH PRESSURE RETURNS ON MONDAY...THEN A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH WITH POSSIBLE UNSETTLED CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... QUICK UPDATE FOR THE TORNADO WATCH ISSUANCE. NO OTHER CHANGES TO THE FORECAST ARE ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. CONDITIONS ACROSS THE CWFA REMAIN VERY UNSTABLE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS HIGH. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATED WITH AN MCS THAT DEVELOPED OVER THE OHIO VALLEY OVERNIGHT. ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON ALONG THE LEE TROUGH AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THIS CONTINUES TO LOOK LIKE A MAINLY LATE MORNING/AFTERNOON EVENT. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM SUNDAY/... MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE SEVERE CONVECTION WILL BE DONE BY 22Z. WILL LINGER POPS THROUGH ABOUT 02Z...UNTIL THE COLD FRONT CLEARS THE CWA. HIGHEST EVENING POPS WILL BE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST CWA CLOSEST TO THE FRONT AND ACROSS THE NORTHWEST CWA WHERE A LAGGING TROUGH COULD SUPPORT CONVECTION. REMOVED POPS OVERNIGHT AS THERE/S NO COMPELLING SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL CONVECTION TO CONTINUE BEYOND MIDNIGHT. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... A WEAK DISTURBANCE DROPPING SOUTH ON THE BACKSIDE OF DEPARTING TROF WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DIURNALLY DRIVEN TSTMS MAINLY OVER THE SRN HALF FCST AREA SUN. MOISTURE IS MORE LIMITED THAN TODAY BUT RELATIVELY COOL MID LVL TEMPS OF AROUND -16C AND BAND OF 40KT MID-LVL WINDS ACROSS THEA AREA COULD SUPPORT A FEW SVR STORMS WITH HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREATS GIVEN DRY ADIABATIC LAPSE RATES. QUIET ON MON AS WEAK HIGH PRES DOMINATES. NEXT CHANCE OF RAIN TUE AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF THE AREA. && .AVIATION /14Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT AREA TERMINALS TODAY. HAVE INCLUDED TIME ESTIMATES OF HIGHEST IMPACT POTENTIAL IN 06Z TAFS. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD END DURING THE AFTERNOON...AND A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION TURNING WINDS TO THE WEST. SCT TSTMS POSSIBLE SUN AFTERNOON MAINLY SRN TERMINALS (KCHO AND KDCA). NO SIG WX EXPECTED MON-THU. && .MARINE... SOUTHERLY CHANNELING WAS PRODUCING LOW END SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WIND GUSTS EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS THE BAY. AS WINDS FROM AN INCREASING LOW LEVEL JET MIX DOWN TODAY...EXPECT ALL AREAS TO ACHIEVE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WIND SPEEDS THAT COULD GUST 25 OR 30 KT AT TIMES. IN ADDITION...THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE WATERS IN THE AFTERNOON. SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS MAY BE NECESSARY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST OF THE BAY BY 6 PM AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE WATERS. SCT TSTMS POSSIBLE SUN AFTERNOON WITH GUSTY WINDS AND FREQ LIGHTNING THE MAIN THREATS. NO FLAGS EXPECTED ON THE WATERS THROUGH TUE OUTSIDE OF TSTMS. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...NONE. MD...NONE. VA...NONE. WV...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR ANZ530>537. && UPDATE...LISTEMAA
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 954 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ANZ530>537-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 011000- 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- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD- SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS- CALVERT-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA- KING GEORGE- 954 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER...AND ADJACENT COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE REMNANTS OF A THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX WILL AFFECT THE MID ATLANTIC REGION THIS MORNING. IN THE AFTERNOON...ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT OVER THE OHIO VALLEY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY. THE REMNANTS OF THE THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX WILL MOVE ACROSS METROPOLITAN AREAS OF BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON DC BEFORE NOON...AND THEN QUICKLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY. ADDITIONAL SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT LATER THIS AFTERNOON...AND AFFECT THE AREA THROUGH 5 PM. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER AND LARGE HAIL. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER AND MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE BAY TODAY AND TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAINLY FROM WASHINGTON DC SOUTH. LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGER STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY...PERHAPS AS EARLY AS MID TO LATE MORNING. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-050-051- WVZ050>055-501>504-011000- WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD- EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-HIGHLAND- AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE- NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-FAUQUIER-LOUDOUN- ORANGE-CULPEPER-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-PENDLETON- HARDY-WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL- 954 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA... NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA...AND CENTRAL AND WESTERN MARYLAND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GARRETT COUNTY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE REMNANTS OF A THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX WILL AFFECT THE MID ATLANTIC REGION THIS MORNING. IN THE AFTERNOON...ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD A OF A COLD FRONT MOVING IN FROM THE OHIO VALLEY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY. THE REMNANTS OF THE THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX WILL MOSTLY AFFECT WESTERN MARYLAND...THE PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON DC BEFORE NOON. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE ANTICIPATED THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH 5 PM. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER AND LARGE HAIL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGER STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY...PERHAPS AS EARLY AS MID TO LATE MORNING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 842 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 MDZ501-502-WVZ503-504-311330- CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY MD-EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY MD- WESTERN MINERAL WV-EASTERN MINERAL WV- 842 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO ALLEGANY AND MINERAL COUNTIES... AT 842 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF BARTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THE COMMUNITIES OF LONACONING...WESTERNPORT...FROSTBURG...LA VALE... RIDGELEY...CUMBERLAND AND FORT ASHBY WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM. GMS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 844 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 MDZ501-502-WVZ503-504-311330- CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY MD-EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY MD- WESTERN MINERAL WV-EASTERN MINERAL WV- 844 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT ALLEGANY AND MINERAL COUNTIES... AT 842 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF BARTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THE COMMUNITIES OF LONACONING...WESTERNPORT...FROSTBURG...LA VALE... RIDGELEY...CUMBERLAND AND FORT ASHBY WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM. GMS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 919 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 MDZ003-502-WVZ050-051-504-311400- WASHINGTON MD-HAMPSHIRE WV-MORGAN WV-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY MD- EASTERN MINERAL WV- 919 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT WASHINGTON...HAMPSHIRE...MORGAN... ALLEGANY AND MINERAL COUNTIES... AT 919 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES WEST OF LEVELS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THE COMMUNITIES OF ROMNEY...HANCOCK...LINEBURG AND PAW PAW WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM. GMS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1002 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 MDZ003>005-WVZ052-053-311445- WASHINGTON MD-CARROLL MD-FREDERICK MD-JEFFERSON WV-BERKELEY WV- 1002 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT WASHINGTON...CARROLL...FREDERICK... JEFFERSON AND BERKELEY COUNTIES... AT 1002 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER HALFWAY...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THE COMMUNITIES OF BOONSBORO...WOLFSVILLE...THURMONT...WALKERSVILLE AND EMMITSBURG WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM. GMS
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:44 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Loudoun County Emergency Management reported a tree down near Quarter Branch Road in Lovettsville.
An NWS Employee reported penny size hail in the Stone Ridge community of Arcola.
A roof was peeled off a home on Harrisville Road west of Toms Brook. Several trees were also downed on the property.
A trained spotter reported penny sized hail near US 522 and South Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester.
Fairfax County Emergency Management reported several power poles down on Gallows Road.
A trained spotter reported trees down on the walking trail in Dunn Loring.
A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail.
A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail in Alexandria.
An amateur radio operator reported penny sized hail south of Alexandria.
Fauquier County Emergency Management reported that a chimney was blown off a house on Lorton Lake Drive. Several wires were also downed in the eastern portions of Warrenton.
An amateur radio operator reported a tree down on power lines on Burke Lake Road.
A trained spotter reported penny sized hail in Falmouth.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, May 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: 99118, 99117, 99123, 99278, 99114, 99121, 99113, 99120, 99112, 99116, 99115, 99119.