The combination of an unstable atmosphere along with plenty of moisture triggered showers and thunderstorms on September 27th. Some thunderstorms produced heavy rain in short periods of time, resulting in flash flooding.
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.
The combination of an unstable atmosphere along with plenty of moisture triggered showers and thunderstorms on September 27th. Some thunderstorms produced heavy rain in short periods of time, resulting in flash flooding.
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 Sep 27, 2:09 PM EST, 5 hours 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
309 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
UPPER LOW WILL LIFT OUT SUNDAY...LEAVING MODERATE HIGH PRES OVER
THE REGION THROUGH MONDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH LATE
TUE. BEHIND THAT SIG COOLER AIR AND HIGH PRES WILL MOVE IN FOR THE
REST OF THE WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/...
WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS AN UPPER BEGINNING TO FILL AND LIFT NORTHWARD
OVER THE APPALACHIANS AHEAD OF A SHORTWAVE TROUGH APPROACHING THE
WESTERN GREAT LAKES. ACARS 400-250MB WIND OBSERVATIONS REVEAL
MAJORITY OF 50-80KT JET ASSOCIATED WITH NEARBY UPPER LOW IS ION THE
NORTHEAST PORTION OF THE CIRCULATION...APPROACHING THE MEAN
WESTERLIES ACROSS SOUTHERN CANADA. 11Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACED A
1011MB OCCLUDED CYCLONE NEAR ASHEVILLE. THE WARM FRONT HAS MOVED
INLAND AND IS NOW ROUGHLY ALONG THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR...THEN
NORTHEAST OFF THE JERSEY COAST. THE COLD FRONT EXTENDS WELL OFFSHORE
OF THE CAROLINAS. THE NEXT COLD FRONT WAS CROSSING THE WESTERN GREAT
LAKES AND MIDWEST.
POSITION OF THE WARM/COASTAL BOUNDARY AND THE SOUTH-NORTH DRYSLOT
ROTATING NORTHWARD WILL HELP DELINEATE CONDITIONS THROUGH THE
EVENING. TO THE WEST...A CLOUDIER/ELEVATION FOG AND COOLER REGIME
WILL REMAIN IN PLACE WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS UNDER THE
UPPER LOW. FURTHER EAST...BREAKS IN LOWER CLOUDS SHOULD LEAD TO LOW
TO MODERATE DESTABILIZATION...AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE VIGOROUS
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. 03Z SREF INDICATES UP TO 30KTS EFFECTIVE
SHEAR IN PLACE. GIVEN DEEP CYCLONIC FLOW AND PRESENCE OF HYBRID
SYSTEM...WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR TRAINING CONVECTION. EARLY THIS
MORNING...ONE SUCH SITUATION AROSE JUST OUTSIDE BALTIMORE CITY WITH
A QUICK 2-3 INCHES OF RAINFALL AND SWIFT WATER RESCUES.
WITH STRATIFICATION...ANTICIPATE INCREASING COVERAGE OF
PRECIPITATION EARLY TONIGHT AS THE UPPER LOW BEGINS TO PASS
OVERHEAD. 09Z SREF INDICATES ELEVATED INSTABILITY WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE OVERNIGHT. GIVEN MOS BIAS LAST NIGHT...AND CONTINUED CLOUDY
REGIME...HAVE BUMPED UP LOWS FOR TONIGHT INTO THE 60S MOST
LOCATIONS.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SUNDAY/...
UPPER LOW CONTINUES TO FILL TO MORE OF A WEAK TROUGH SUNDAY...AND
PASSES OVER THE EASTERN FORECAST AREA. THUS...BEST CONVECTIVE
CHANCES WILL BE CLOSER TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. COOL/DRY ADVECTION
BEGINS TOMORROW AFTERNOON BEHIND THIS FEATURE ON NORTHWESTERLY
DOWNSLOPE FLOW. A BIT MORE SUNSHINE SHOULD ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO
REACH INTO THE 80S ACROSS A FEW LOCATIONS.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THE MURKINESS OF THE PAST FEW DAYS WILL LIFT OUT FOR GOOD SUNDAY
NIGHT. MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT WILL BE CLEAR FOR THE MOST PART. THE
ONLY CAVEAT TO THAT IS FAIR WX CU THAT WILL POP UP MONDAY MIDDAY
WITH THE SUN EVAPORATING ALL THE MOISTURE IN THE GROUND FROM THE
PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
TUE A SHORT WAVE APPROACHES WITH COOLER WEATHER BEHIND IT FOR THE
SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK. CHANCE OF SOME SHOWERS WITH THAT WAVE
SOMETIME TUE AND/OR TUE NIGHT...EVEN A TSTM POSSIBLE TUE AFTERNOON
WITH FORECAST CAPE NEARING 1000 J/KG...BUT NOTHING TOO ORGANIZED
EXPECTED.
BEHIND THAT...SIG COOLER AND FALLISH WEATHER SLIDES IN THRU THE END
OF THE WEEK. GFS EVEN HAS THE 850MB ZERO DEGREE LINE INTO OUR NW
COUNTIES BY FRI MORNING. COULD BE SOME 30S FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE
HIGH ELEVATIONS...BUT NOT FORECASTING THAT ATTM AS THE GFS TENDS TO
OVEREMPHASIZE THE COLD AIR WITH THESE SURGES.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
COOL SEASON PATTERN PERSISTS AS AN UPPER LOW DRIFTS NORTHWARD OVER
THE REGION TONIGHT. ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE AS A RESULT...WHICH SHOULD PLACE MOST
LOCATIONS INTO MVFR-IFR CATEGORY TONIGHT. TOMORROW IS A TRANSITION
DAY WITH THE TROUGH AXIS PASSING OVERHEAD AND THE INITIATION OF
NORTHWEST FLOW DURING THE AFTERNOON.
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH TUE AND TUE EVENING. THAT WILL BRING
A WIND SHIFT TO THE NW AS WELL AS A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS. OTW
VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH HIGH PRES MOVING IN BEHIND THE FRONT
FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
&&
.MARINE...
LIGHT TO MODERATE EASTERLY FLOW PERSISTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON ON THE
WARM SIDE OF THE FRONTAL ZONE. FLOW INCREASES AND BECOMES MORE
SOUTHERLY TONIGHT AS A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ADVANCES
NORTH...BEFORE BACKING SOUTHEAST AHEAD OF THE NEXT BOUNDARY.
A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THRU LATE TUE. THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HIGH
PRES THRU THE WEEK. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW 15 KT SUN
NIGHT THRU SAT.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
AS STATED IN PUBLIC DISCUSSION...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
TRAINING NORTHWARD ALONG THE CHESAPEAKE BAY INTO THE BALTIMORE METRO
AREA. SHOULD HEAVIER SHOWERS PERSIST...THIS AREA MAY SEE LOCALIZED
FLOODING THROUGH TONIGHT.
IFLOWS GAGES HAVE REPORTED 2-4 OF RAINFALL DURING THE PAST 24
HOURS IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN NEAR WAYNESBORO. THE MARFC HAS THUS
ADJUSTED 1HR FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE TO BE ABOUT 0.75 AND 3HR
GUIDANCE ABOUT 1.25 IN THIS LOCALIZED AREA. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR
HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL IN THIS AREA WHICH MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
TIDES ONCE AGAIN EXCEEDED ADVISORY LEVELS LAST NIGHT. IT APPEARS
THAT THE HIGHER TIDAL DEPARTURE ANOMALIES HAVE ADVANCED UPSTREAM
INTO THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER AND MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE
BAY...COINCIDENT WITH THE WARM FRONT LIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST. WHILE
THE PRESSURE GRADIENT HAS WEAKENED AT THE MOUTH OF THE BAY...AM NOT
CONFIDENT THE SITUATION WILL ABATE BY NEXT HIGH TIDE...ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING THE NEW MOON. HAVE EXTENDED THE COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY
THROUGH THIS EVENING. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR THE TRACK OF KYLE INTO
EARLY NEXT WEEK AS THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING AN INFLUX OF HIGHER SEAS
ACROSS THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...WOULD COULD INHIBIT FLOW OUT OF THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY SYSTEM BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW TIDES.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR DCZ001.
MD...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR MDZ007-
011-013-014-016>018.
VA...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
VAZ052>055-057.
WV...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.
&&
SYNOPSIS...CAS
NEAR TERM...SJR
SHORT TERM...SJR
LONG TERM...CAS
AVIATION...SJR/CAS
MARINE...SJR/CAS
HYDROLOGY...SJR
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...SJRHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1115 AM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008 ANZ530>537-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 281000- 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- 1115 AM EDT SAT SEP 27 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 MINOR COASTAL FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE TIDAL POTOMAC AND WESTERN SHORE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AT TIMES OF HIGH TIDE TODAY. TIDES ONE TO TWO FEET ABOVE ASTRONOMICAL NORMALS ARE EXPECTED. A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE LOCATIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE FROM THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE BAY AND BALTIMORE METRO AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-050-051- WVZ050>055-501>504-281000- 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- 1115 AM EDT SAT SEP 27 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 TWO TO FOUR INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED THIS WEEKEND IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN SOUTHEAST OF WAYNESBORO. SHOULD HEAVIER SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS CROSS THE AFOREMENTIONED AREA...LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING MAY OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. ROGOWSKI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 234 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008 MDZ005-006-011-271915- CARROLL MD-NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD- 234 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN TO AFFECT CARROLL AND BALTIMORE COUNTIES...INCLUDING NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE... AT 234 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED TRAINING THUNDERSTORMS OVER PIMLICO...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. RAPID RAINFALL OF ONE INCH OR MORE WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM THESE STORMS OVER AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY SEEN OVER TWO INCHES OF RAIN. LOCATIONS THAT WILL LIKELY BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE MCDONOUGH...PIKESVILLE...TIMONIUM...OWINGS MILLS...COCKEYSVILLE AND REISTERSTOWN. HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY BELOW A MILE AND CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. KRAMAR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 614 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008 VAZ041-051-272300- CULPEPER VA-FAUQUIER VA- 614 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008 ...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT CULPEPER AND FAUQUIER COUNTIES... AT 614 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN 2 MILES EAST OF ALANTHUS...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO ONE AND ONE HALF INCH PER HOUR OVER CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CULPEPER COUNTY AND WEST CENTRAL FAUQUIER COUNTY...FROM NEAR BRANDY STATION TO NEAR CRESTHILL. LOCATIONS THAT WILL LIKELY BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE JEFFERSONTON...OPAL...BRANDY STATION...AND RIXEYVILLE. INTENSE RAINFALL MAY LEAD TO PONDING OF WATER...OR MINOR FLOODING OF RURAL ROADWAYS. KRAMAR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 624 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008 VAZ028-031-WVZ050>052-272315- CLARKE VA-HAMPSHIRE WV-BERKELEY WV-MORGAN WV-FREDERICK VA- 624 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL IN CLARKE...HAMPSHIRE... BERKELEY...MORGAN AND FREDERICK COUNTIES... AT 624 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING RAINFALL RATES OF TWO TO TWO AND ONE HALF INCH PER HOUR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES WEST OF UNGER TO 3 MILES SOUTH OF GLENGARY TO 3 MILES EAST OF ALBIN...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. LOCATIONS THAT WILL LIKELY BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE CEDAR GROVE...WINCHESTER...UNGER...GLENGARY AND OAKLAND. SUCH STORMS COULD PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND MAY RESULT IN MINOR STREET FLOODING. KRAMAR
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
701 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0305 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 NNE DUNDALK 39.28N 76.49W
09/27/2008 BALTIMORE MD EMERGENCY MNGR
GERMAN HILL AND NORTH POINT ROAD CLSOED DUE TO HIGH
WATER. TIME APPROXIMATE.
0315 PM FLASH FLOOD W RUXTON 39.40N 76.65W
09/27/2008 BALTIMORE MD EMERGENCY MNGR
RUXTON ROAD AT CIRCLE ROAD CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER. TIME
APPROXIMATE.
0330 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 SSW OWINGS MILLS 39.40N 76.80W
09/27/2008 BALTIMORE MD EMERGENCY MNGR
OWINGS MILLS BLVD AT RED RUN BLVD CLOSED DUE TO HIGH
WATER. TIME APPROXIMATE.
0430 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 SW PIKESVILLE 39.38N 76.72W
09/27/2008 BALTIMORE MD EMERGENCY MNGR
OLD COURT ROAD AT PARK HEIGHTS AVE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH
WATER. WATER RESCUES REQUIRED.
0500 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 ESE BUTLER 39.53N 76.71W
09/27/2008 BALTIMORE MD EMERGENCY MNGR
WESTERN RUN OVERFLOWING IN THE BELFAST AREA...RESULTING
IN ROAD CLOSURES.
0615 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 SW HUNT VALLEY 39.49N 76.65W
09/27/2008 BALTIMORE MD EMERGENCY MNGR
YORK ROAD CLOSED AT WIGHT AVE
0630 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 W COCKEYSVILLE 39.48N 76.66W
09/27/2008 BALTIMORE MD EMERGENCY MNGR
BEAVER DAM ROAD CLOSED NEAR INTERSTATE 83
&&
HTSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
740 PM EDT SAT SEP 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 E MOUNT WASHINGTON 39.37N 76.65W
09/27/2008 BALTIMORE CITY MD TRAINED SPOTTER
JONES FALLS OUT OF ITS BANKS NEAR FALLS ROAD AND SMITH
AVE. BRIDGES CLOSED ALONG SMITH AVE. PARKING LOTS UNDER
WATER. START TIME APPROXIMATE. FLOODING ONGOING AT 630
PM.
&&
HTSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Route 9 was closed near the village of Largent due to flash flooding.
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, September 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: 135927.