A slow moving cold front moved towards the Mid Atlantic Coast on July 23rd. This front provided the focus for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours.
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 slow moving cold front moved towards the Mid Atlantic Coast on July 23rd. This front provided the focus for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. With high amounts of moisture in place, some storms produced heavy rainfall. Storms also moved repeatedly over the same areas. This allowed flash flooding to occur. A local newspaper reported flash flooding in Berkeley County.
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 Jul 23, 10:45 AM EST, 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1145 AM EDT WED JUL 23 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE MID ATLANTIC
TODAY...AND GRADUALLY MOVE SOUTH OF THE AREA ON THURSDAY. THE
FRONT MAY BRING SOME HEAVY RAINFALL AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE FRONT WILL BEGIN TO RISE BACK TO NORTH
INTO THE AREA BY SATURDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
ATMOSPHERE IS JUICY. BUT EXTENSIVE CLOUDS ARE LIMITING
HEATING/INSTABILITY. HAVE NUDGED MAX T DOWN A COUPLE/FEW DEGREES
ESPECIALLY IN AREAS UNDER RAIN.
DESPITE THE LIMITED INSTABILITY SO FAR...VISIBLE SATELLITE
IMAGERY INDICATES SOME BREAKS IN THE CLOUD COVER THAT WILL ADVECT
INTO OUR CWA. BY AFTERNOON...1-1.5 K J/KG CAPE AT THE SURFACE MAY
BE GENERATED. THIS MAY ALLOW A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM
ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE PRE-EXISTING AREA OF SHOWERS AND
ALONG A CONVERGENT ZONE NEAR THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR THIS
AFTERNOON. HEAVY RAINFALL WOULD BE THE PRIMARY RISK...ESPECIALLY
IF TRAINING BEGINS TO BECOME APPARENT.
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO BE A RISK THIS EVENING...AND A
FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR PREVIOUS COUNTIES AND HAVE ADDED
A COUPLE ALONG INTERSTATE 95.
BELIEVE THE SEVERE WEATHER RISK WILL BE MARGINAL THROUGH MID
AFTERNOON...BUT WILL INCREASE DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND
ESPECIALLY EVENING. WITH FAVORABLE WIND FIELDS AND SHEAR...AND
WHATEVER CAPE FORMED IN THE AFTERNOON...LINEARLY ORGANIZED
CONVECTION IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE FRONT/TROUGH.
DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT...BUT AN ISOLATED
TORNADO CANT BE RULED OUT.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM THURSDAY/...
PCPN WL BE ONGOING DURG FIRST HALF OF TNGT PD...THEN TAPERING
OVRNGT AS TROF MOVES OFF THE CST. IN THE FAR W...LOWS WL ACTUALLY
MAKE IT INTO MU50S...RANGING TO THE L70S IN VCNTY CITY CENTRES AND
ALONG CHES BAY.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
W/ OVERNIGHT SVR WX/CONVECTION A PRIORITY...THE LONG TERM SAW
LITTLE SUBSTANTIAL UPDATING. DAILY MAX/MINS...WINDS AND POPS FOR
THE WEEKEND GOT MUCH OF THE ATTENTION. KEEPING TEMPS AT OR JUST
ABOVE THE NORMAL AVG FOR LATE JULY. THE MAIN CONCERN FOR THE LONG
TERM STILL BEING WEEKEND PASSAGE OF UPPER TROF AXIS AND SUBSEQUENT
SFC COLD FRONT.
A COUPLE OF WAVES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES LOOK TO SLIDE THRU
THE MID ATLNC OVER THE WEEKEND...THE STRONGEST STILL APPEARS TO
THE BE THE INITIAL PASSAGE ON SAT. THIS FEATURE MAY HAVE ENOUGH
STRENGTH TO DEVELOP SMALLER SCALE MCS FEATURES PUSHING ACROSS THE
REGION AT THE LOWER/SRN END OF THE UPPER TROF AXIS. SUNDAY AFTN
STILL LOOKS TO BE ACTIVE...THO MUCH LESS FORCING WILL BE PRESENT
DRNG MAX HEATING. W/ DWPNTS IN THE U60S/L70S THO...IT WON/T TAKE
MUCH FORCING TO CAUSE SCT/D CONVECTION ACROSS THE REGION.
THE WEEKEND ALSO EVEN MORE UNCERTAIN W/ A FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT
BTWN THE GFS/ECMWF GONE AWRY. THE PAST FEW DAYS SAW A DECENT
HANDLE ON THE UPPER LOW/S POSITION AND MOVEMENT OVER THE WEEKEND.
00Z EUROPEAN NOT ON BOARD W/ THE UPPER TROF AXIS PASSAGE UNTIL SUN
NIGHT /BASICALLY HOLDING OFF ANOTHER DAY FROM THE GFS SOLN.
EARLY NEXT WEEK /MON-TUES/ LOOKS TO BE THE HIGH PRES TRANSITION
DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT WAVE OF DISTURBANCES SLIDE ACROSS THE OHIO
VLY INTO THE MID ATLNC REGION.
&&
.AVIATION /15Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
KMRB WILL BE IFR IN RAIN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. VFR AT OTHER
TERMINALS WILL DETERIORATE TO MVFR IN RAIN LATER THIS AFTERNOON. A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRECEDE A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE THIS
EVENING. IFR CONDITIONS AND GUSTY WINDS MAY RESULT. WILL TRY TO
ADEQUATELY INCLUDE/TIME THAT EVENT IN 18Z TAFS.
EARLY THURS MRNG...THE STRONG SFC COLD FRONT WILL PUSH OFF THE ATLNC
COAST...W/ LITTLE CONCERN THRU THE END OF THE WORK WEEK. SAT/SUN
STILL LOOK TO BE THE NEXT WAVE OF TSTM ACTIVITY...W/ SAT HIGHLIGHTED
AS THE MOST FAVORABLE FOR WIDESPREAD -RA/TSTM ACTIVITY. HIGH PRES
FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.MARINE...
SCA BEGIN TIME HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TO 4 PM. IT WILL TAKE A WHILE
FOR GUSTS UP TO 20 KT TO BE REALIZED. OTHERWISE...THUNDERSTORMS
THIS EVENING MAY BRING GUSTY WINDS THAT COULD PROMPT SMWS.
AFT COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE DELMARVA REGION THURS MRNG AND OFF
THE ATLNC COAST BY AFTN...LITTLE CONCERN THRU THE END OF THE WEEK.
ANOTHER SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL CROSS THE REGION
THIS WEEKEND AND HIGH PRES WILL SETTLE IN BY EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT FOR DCZ001.
MD...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT FOR MDZ004>007-009>011-013-014-016.
VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT FOR VAZ042-052>056.
WV...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR ANZ530>537.
&&
SYNOPSIS...PELOQUIN
NEAR TERM...PELOQUIN
SHORT TERM...ABW
LONG TERM...GMS
AVIATION...PELOQUIN/GMS
MARINE...PELOQUIN/GMSHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1111 AM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 ANZ530>537-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 241000- 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- 1111 AM EDT WED JUL 23 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE OUTLOOK AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO WBCFFALWX /WGUS61/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. IN ADDITION TO VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY IF SOME BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS DEVELOP. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER AND THE MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE BAY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-050-051- WVZ050>055-501>504-241000- 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- 1111 AM EDT WED JUL 23 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR FREDERICK...MONTGOMERY... CARROLL..AND HARFORD COUNTIES IN MARYLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. IN VIRGINIA THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY. PLEASE REFER TO WBCFFALWX /WGUS61/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION TO VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY IF SOME BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS DEVELOP. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. PELOQUIN/ROGOWSKI
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
842 AM EDT WED JUL 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1153 PM TSTM WND DMG STANLEY 38.58N 78.50W
07/22/2008 PAGE VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN ON HUNTSVILLE DRIVE
1153 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 E STANLEY 38.58N 78.49W
07/22/2008 PAGE VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN ON BRADY ROAD
1201 AM TSTM WND DMG SW LURAY 38.66N 78.46W
07/23/2008 PAGE VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN
1239 AM HAIL SW FRONT ROYAL 38.92N 78.19W
07/23/2008 E0.75 INCH WARREN VA EMERGENCY MNGR
1252 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 NNE LINDEN 38.94N 78.06W
07/23/2008 WARREN VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN ON FREEZELAND ROAD
&&
ROGOWSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
845 AM EDT WED JUL 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1124 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 ENE CURTIS BAY 39.27N 76.51W
07/22/2008 BALTIMORE MD TRAINED SPOTTER
POWER LINES DOWN AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
1153 PM TSTM WND DMG STANLEY 38.58N 78.50W
07/22/2008 PAGE VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN ON HUNTSVILLE DRIVE
1153 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 E STANLEY 38.58N 78.49W
07/22/2008 PAGE VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN ON BRADY ROAD
1200 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 SW LURAY 38.66N 78.47W
07/23/2008 PAGE VA TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS TREES DOWNED AND SOME POLES DOWN ON EAST MAIN
STREET AND ON HAWKSBILL DRIVE.
1201 AM TSTM WND DMG SW LURAY 38.66N 78.46W
07/23/2008 PAGE VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN
1239 AM HAIL SW FRONT ROYAL 38.92N 78.19W
07/23/2008 E0.75 INCH WARREN VA EMERGENCY MNGR
1242 AM TSTM WND DMG FRONT ROYAL 38.92N 78.18W
07/23/2008 WARREN VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN ON HAPPY CREEK RD
1252 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 NNE LINDEN 38.94N 78.06W
07/23/2008 WARREN VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN ON FREEZELAND ROAD
0102 AM TSTM WND DMG ABERDEEN 39.51N 76.17W
07/23/2008 HARFORD MD FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
TREES AND WIRES DOWN ON WEST BEL AIR AVE...BONNETT
ST...AND EDMUND ST
0115 AM TSTM WND DMG STEPHENS CITY 39.10N 78.22W
07/23/2008 FREDERICK VA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
0116 AM TSTM WND GST ENE WINCHESTER 39.18N 78.17W
07/23/2008 E60.00 MPH CITY OF WINCHESTER VA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
ROGOWSKIThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Local newspapers reported flooding in Inwood and Martinsburg. The ASOS at Martinsburg Airport measured 1.71 inches of rain within 24 hours, setting a new rainfall record.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, July 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: 118404.