A strong area of low pressure over the Great Lakes slowly tracked to our north on the 8th. The cold front associated with the low moved into the region 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 strong area of low pressure over the Great Lakes slowly tracked to our north on the 8th. The cold front associated with the low moved into the region during the afternoon and evening hours. A moist southerly flow ahead of the front provided instability. The instability combined with the forcing from the front to trigger showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours of the 8th. Due to strong winds aloft, some thunderstorms became severe with damaging winds.
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 Apr 8, 1:44 PM EST, 5 hours 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 244 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT ENTERING WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MID- ATLANTIC REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING A RETURN OF DRY AND SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER CONDITIONS FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE HIGH WILL MOVE OFF THE COAST SUNDAY. A DRY COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH MONDAY. HIGH PRESSURE BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BRING MORE DRY AND SEASONABLE CONDITIONS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /TONIGHT/... THIN LN OF CNVTN ASSO W/ THE CD FNT CAN BE SEEN XTNDG FM THE SW CORNER OF PA BACK TO CRW. THE FNT LOOKS TO MAKE IT INTO THE HIGHLANDS ARND 00Z..I-95 ARND 03Z...AND NHK ARND 06Z. ENTIRE CWA IS OUTLOOKED FOR SLT RISK...AS SLT RISK XTNDS FM NY TO FL. THERE ARE FACTORS BOTH FOR AND SOMEWHAT AGNST SVR WX: CON - IF LN CONTS AS A UNIFORM STRUCTURE AS IT IS ATTM IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR ANY CELL TO GAIN THE ENERGY NEEDED TO GO SVR. BUFKIT MDL SNDGS ARE ALSO QUITE WEAK REGARDING CAPE. PRO - ALTHO NOT XCSVLY STRONG WINDS IN LOWEST 030 FT SHOULD CONT TO INCRS OVR THE NEXT FEW HRS - CRW VWP PRSNTLY 40KT AT 030. THIS IS THE TIME OF YR OF LOW TOPPED SVR SO RDR SHIFT WL NEED TO KEEP THEIR EYE ON A STRENGTHENING LO LVL WIND FIELD...EVEN RW COULD BRING DOWN ENOUGH WIND TO TOPPLE A TREE. OBVIOUSLY WL GO W/ HIGH POPS DURG THE EVE HRS ACROSS THE CWA. WINDS WL BE TURNING TO THE WNW DURG THE LATE EVE. COLDER AIR MOVING IN AFTR MDNGT WL BRING AN END TO THIS BRIEF HEAT WV (IF THAT'S THE CORRECT TERM). LOWS TO RANGE FM M50S FAR E TO M30S FAR W. PSBLY EVEN SOME UPSLOPE SNSH IN THE HIGHLANDS LATE TNGT. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY/... THE THREAT OF UPSLOPE SHOWERS WL CONT ON FRI...BUT THESE WL BE OF THE LIQUID VARIETY. EARLY SPRING IS THE TIME WHEN THE AIR MASSES DO BATTLE...WHICH IS USUALLY MANIFESTED BY BRZY/WINDY DAYS...WHICH IS HOW FRI SHAPES UP AS THE HIGH PRES RETURNS. E OF THE MTNS THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE...BUT EVERYWHERE IN THE CWA SHOULD SEE WIND GUSTS WELL INTO THE 20S BY MID MRNG AND LAST THRUT MUCH OF THE DAY. TEMPS TO RANGE FM U40S IN THE HIGHLANDS TO L60S FM CHO-BWI AND E. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING PLENTY OF SUNSHINE SATURDAY ALONG WITH SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES. MAX TEMPS WILL RANGE FROM THE 50S IN THE MOUNTAINS TO THE MID AND UPPER 60S ACROSS MOST OTHER LOCATIONS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING DRY CONDITIONS SATURDAY NIGHT. LIGHT WINDS SATURDAY NIGHT WILL ALLOW FOR RADIATIONAL COOLING. MIN TEMPS WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 30S IN THE COLDER VALLEYS TO THE UPPER 40S IN DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON. HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OFF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST SUNDAY AND A RETURN FLOW WILL BRING MILDER CONDITIONS ALONG WITH MORE SUNSHINE. MAX TEMPS WILL BE IN THE 70S ACROSS MOST LOCATIONS. A DRY COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN BEHIND THE FRONT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...BRINGING A RETURN OF SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH MORE DRY CONDITIONS. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... GUSTY SW WINDS AT ALL TAF SITES FOR THE RMNDR OF THE AFTN/ERLY EVE. RW/TRW WL MOVE INTO THE RGN RANGING FM 22Z AT MRB TO 00Z AT BWI. THESE WL HV THE PTNL TO BRING HIGHER WIND GUSTS TO THE SFC - UP TO 40 KT. GUSTY NW WINDS WL DVLP FRI MID MRNG AS HIGH PRES BUILDS INTO RGN. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE TERMINALS FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...BRINGING VFR CONDITIONS. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST UP TO 20 KNOTS SATURDAY. MORE VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OFF THE COAST. A DRY COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH MONDAY AND HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN BEHIND THE FRONT. && .MARINE... GUSTY SW SCA-LVL WINDS ON THE WATERS THRU MID EVE..THEN WINDS WL TURN TO THE NW AFTR MDNGT. THESE MAY DIMINISH FOR A PD OVRNGT...BUT THEN RETURN TO SCA LVLS BY MID MRNG FRI. HAVE EXTENDED THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN STRONG ENOUGH TO COMBINE WITH COLD ADVECTION FOR STRONGER WINDS ALOFT TO MIX DOWN. THE SCA MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH SATURDAY BEFORE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVERHEAD SATURDAY NIGHT...BRINGING LIGHER WINDS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OFF THE COAST SUNDAY AND A DRY COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH MONDAY. MORE HIGH PRESSURRE IS EXPECTED BEHIND THE FRONT. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...NONE. MD...NONE. VA...NONE. WV...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR ANZ530>543. && PRODUCTS...WOODY!/BJL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 622 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 091000- 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- PATAPSCO RIVER INCLUDING BALTIMORE HARBOR- CHESTER RIVER TO QUEENSTOWN MD-EASTERN BAY- CHOPTANK RIVER TO CAMBRIDGE MD AND THE LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER- PATUXENT RIVER TO BROOMES ISLAND MD- TANGIER SOUND AND THE INLAND WATERS SURROUNDING BLOODSWORTH ISLAND-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- 622 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 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...TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE EVENING HOURS AND LATE TONIGHT...AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO WILL BE POSSIBLE. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER. IN ADDITION...SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER AND MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE BAY. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVATION THROUGH TONIGHT. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ021-025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501- 502-WVZ050>055-501>504-091000- 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-LOUDOUN-ORANGE- CULPEPER-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN- BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-PENDLETON-HARDY-WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT- WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL- 622 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 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...TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO WILL BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVATION THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 517 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 MDZ003>005-WVZ052-053-082200- WASHINGTON MD-CARROLL MD-FREDERICK MD-JEFFERSON WV-BERKELEY WV- 517 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT WASHINGTON...CARROLL...FREDERICK... JEFFERSON AND BERKELEY COUNTIES... AT 516 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WARRENTON TO 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF SHENANDOAH JUNCTION...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THE WIND AT MARTINSBURG RECENTLY GUSTED TO 52 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN BRING DOWN LARGE TREE BRANCHES. TAKE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. && LAT...LON 3971 7704 3938 7709 3934 7790 3973 7792 TIME...MOT...LOC 2116Z 272DEG 44KT 3969 7778 3939 7779 HTS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 537 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 MDZ003>005-009-010-VAZ042-051>053-501-502-WVZ053-082200- WASHINGTON MD-CARROLL MD-FREDERICK MD-HOWARD MD-MONTGOMERY MD- CULPEPER VA-NORTHERN FAUQUIER VA-LOUDOUN VA-JEFFERSON WV- PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER VA- FAIRFAX VA- 537 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT WASHINGTON...CARROLL...FREDERICK... HOWARD...MONTGOMERY...CULPEPER...NORTHERN FAUQUIER...LOUDOUN... JEFFERSON...PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK...SOUTHERN FAUQUIER AND FAIRFAX COUNTIES... AT 536 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ROHERSVILLE TO 6 MILES WEST OF WARRENTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS AS IT MOVE EAST. && LAT...LON 3946 7711 3864 7740 3869 7793 3945 7773 TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 280DEG 39KT 3942 7764 3870 7790 HTS/SMZ
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
602 PM EDT THU APR 08 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0533 PM TSTM WND GST HAGERSTOWN 39.64N 77.72W
04/08/2010 U0 MPH WASHINGTON MD EMERGENCY MNGR
MULTIPLE TREES DOWN IN HAGERSTOWN.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1000148
BJLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
620 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010
VAZ037-039-050-082245-
ORANGE VA-MADISON VA-ALBEMARLE VA-
620 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT ORANGE...MADISON AND ALBEMARLE
COUNTIES...
AT 620 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
CISMONT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
STORM INTENSITY IS INCREASING...AND SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP
RAPIDLY. REMAIN ALERT...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF WARNINGS
ARE ISSUED.
WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN BRING DOWN LARGE TREE BRANCHES.
TAKE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
&&
LAT...LON 3808 7845 3810 7844 3836 7816 3819 7796
3813 7805 3814 7810 3812 7821 3801 7830
3799 7832
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 225DEG 48KT 3811 7827
HTS/SMZSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 659 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 VAZ050>052-055-056-502-082345- ORANGE VA-STAFFORD VA-CULPEPER VA- PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER VA- SPOTSYLVANIA VA- 659 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT ORANGE...STAFFORD...CULPEPER... PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK...SOUTHERN FAUQUIER AND SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTIES... AT 659 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOCUST GROVE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. STORM INTENSITY IS INCREASING...AND SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP RAPIDLY. REMAIN ALERT...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN BRING DOWN LARGE TREE BRANCHES. TAKE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. && LAT...LON 3875 7744 3854 7730 3823 7777 3843 7791 TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 228DEG 46KT 3836 7775 HTS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
731 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010
DCZ001-MDZ009-013-014-016-VAZ052>054-090015-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-MONTGOMERY MD-ANNE ARUNDEL MD-
PRINCE GEORGES MD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-CHARLES MD-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-FAIRFAX VA-
731 PM EDT THU APR 8 2010
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...
ARLINGTON...MONTGOMERY...ANNE ARUNDEL...PRINCE GEORGES...PRINCE
WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK...CHARLES AND FAIRFAX COUNTIES...
AT 731 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
DALE CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
STORM INTENSITY IS INCREASING...AND SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP
RAPIDLY. REMAIN ALERT...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF WARNINGS
ARE ISSUED.
WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN BRING DOWN LARGE TREE BRANCHES.
TAKE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
&&
LAT...LON 3865 7710 3866 7712 3867 7712 3870 7704
3888 7703 3890 7706 3874 7706 3871 7713
3862 7717 3861 7720 3864 7722 3859 7724
3856 7732 3877 7754 3911 7694 3887 7658
TIME...MOT...LOC 2331Z 240DEG 55KT 3869 7727
HTS/SMZThe Sterling radar (KLWX), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:50 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm wind gust was estimated around 60 mph.
A wind gust of 59 mph was recorded at KDCA.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, April 2010
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: 224449, 224450.