Hail and Damaging Winds in Maryland, May 27, 2011

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Maryland, May 27, 2011
Start: 2011-05-27T14:21
End: 2011-05-27T19:50
Location: Maryland

May 27, 2011 · NWS LWX · 9 events in 5 counties and zones

A warm and moist airmass remained over the region during the 27th. A surface trough provided the lifting mechanism for more showers and thunderstorms to develop.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

A warm and moist airmass remained over the region during the 27th. A surface trough provided the lifting mechanism for more showers and thunderstorms to develop. Copious amounts of instability caused some thunderstorms to become severe.

What forecasters said that day

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 27, 2:13 PM EST, 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 27, 2:13 PM EST, 8 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
313 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

.SYNOPSIS...

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA IS TRACKING
NORTH-NORTHEAST TOWARDS THE MID ATLANTIC REGION. UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCES WILL TRIGGER AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY. A
RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE AREA SUNDAY THROUGH
THE WEDNESDAY...BRINGING A VERY WARM AIR MASS OVER THE AIR MASS TO
THE MID ATLANTIC. COOLER AND DRIER AIR WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION
DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...

SVR TSTM WTCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE CWA. AM MOST
CONCERNED ABT THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CWA...PERHAPS FM I-81 TO
I-95?...BASED ON ONGOING STORMS TOPPING 50K FT IN N CENTRAL NC
WHICH APPEAR TO BE TRACKING IN A DIRECTION OF ABT 010. HRRR SHOWS
THESE BCMG A PROBLEM IN NELSON ARND 20/21Z AND INTO THE DC AREA
ARND 23Z. SFC HEATING AND STEEPER LAPSE RATES WILL RESULT IN
MODERATE INSTABILITY BY THE MID TO LATE AFTN WITH SBCAPE VALUES UP
TO 3000 J/KG.

SFC ANLYS SHOWS A WEAK FNT W OF THE CWA. THIS PLACES MID ATLC IN
CONTINUED UNSTABLE AIR MASS LK YDA. MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. ATTM I'M A LTL LESS WORRIED ABT THE FLDG
THREAT IN THE HIGHLANDS...BUT WE'LL NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON PTNL
TRAINING OF STORMS ON SSW-NNE FLOW...ESPECIALLY MINERAL
CO...WHERE FLASH FLOODING OCCURRED YDA AND HRLY FFG IS VERY LOW.
AS WELL CANNOT RULE OUT ISOLD TOR.

CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL SUBSIDE DURING THE LATE EVE AS STORMS
WEAKEN AND MOVE INTO PA. LOW TEMPS WILL ONLY FALL INTO THE 60S
ACROSS MOST OF THE REGION.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY/...

MODELS SHOW ANOTHER DISTURBANCE MOVING ACROSS THE CWA ON SATURDAY.
INITIALLY TERRAIN AND THEN THE DISTURBANCE SHOULD HELP TO TRIGGER
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON. CAPE MIGHT
NOT BE AS GREAT AS FRIDAY...BUT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO
SUPPORT THUNDERSTORM GROWTH...SOME COULD BE STRONG. AFTER DAYTIME
HEATING ENDS...THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DIMINISH.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...

UPPER RIDGE BUILDS ACROSS THE AREA SUNDAY THRU WED. THIS WILL HELP TO
SUPPRESS CONVECTION BUT BUILD THE HEAT WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES INTO
THE 90S. MODELS SHOW THE RIDGE BREAKING DOWN DURING THE MID WEEK.
BUT MODELS SOMETIMES TRY TO BREAK DOWN RIDGES TOO SOON...SO THIS
COULD WIND UP BEING DELAYED UNTIL THURSDAY. REGARDLESS IT APPEARS
THAT A COOLER CONTINENTAL AIR MASS WL PUSH INTO THE MID ATLC DURG
THE LATTER PART OF NEXT WK.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...

A WEAKENING UPPER TROUGH WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS
AND STORMS THIS AFTN AND EVE. CHO LKLY TO BE THE 1ST TARGET BTWN
20/21Z...THEN TRACKING TOWARD IAD/DCA ABT 2 HRS LATER. STRONGEST
STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.
CONVECTION SHOULD SUBSIDE DURING THE LATE EVE.

AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AT THE TERMINALS ON SATURDAY.
RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN SUNDAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK
WHICH WILL LIKELY PUT A LID ON CONVECTION.

&&

.MARINE...
SVR TSTM WATCH IN EFFECT. THIS COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS ON THE WATERS
LATE THIS AFTN AND EVE. MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SMW'S AND BE
READY TO MOVE TO PORT QUICKLY.

SLY CHANNELING WILL LEAD TO SCA CONDITIONS ACROSS THE MAIN STEM OF
MD CHSPK BAY AND LOWER TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER THIS AFTN AND EVE.

WILL HAVE TO WATCH SOUTHEAST FLOW ON THE MID/LOWER BAY AND LOWER
POTOMAC SATURDAY PM/EVE AS GUSTS COULD COME CLOSE TO SCA CRITERIA.
THERE COULD ALSO BE AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS THAT COULD PRODUCE GUSTY
WINDS. AFTER THAT...RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN THROUGH EARLY
NEXT WEEK.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
SLY FLOW CONTINUES THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND A NEW MOON IS APPROACHING
/JUNE 1/. AT THE MOMENT WATER LVLS BLO LVL OF CONCERN...BUT W/
THAT NEW MOON WATER LEVELS WILL REMAIN ELEVATED...WITH THE POTENTIAL
FOR FURTHER MINOR COASTAL FLOODING THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...NONE.
MD...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR MDZ501-502.
VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR VAZ503-504.
WV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR WVZ050-055-
     501>506.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR ANZ531>534-
     537-539>541-543.

&&

PRODUCTS...WOODY!

Hazardous weather outlook, May 27, 12:00 PM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
100 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057-
281200-
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-
100 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR THE ENTIRE
AREA. THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AS THE PRIMARY THREATS.

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF THE TIDAL
POTOMAC AND MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE BAY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT ON THE WESTERN SHORE
OF THE MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE BAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE THREAT FOR MINOR COASTAL FLOODING AT TIMES OF HIGH TIDE ON THE
TIDAL POTOMAC AND WESTERN SHORE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY CONTINUES
THIS WEEKEND.

HEAT INDICES MAY APPROACH 100 DEGREES MONDAY AND TUESDAY IN THE
BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON METRO AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS IN EFFECT. RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501>504-
WVZ050>053-055-501>506-281200-
WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD-
EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-AUGUSTA-
ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE-NELSON-
ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER-
NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-WESTERN HIGHLAND-
EASTERN HIGHLAND-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY-
WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL-
WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON-
100 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR THE ENTIRE
AREA. THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AS THE PRIMARY THREATS.

STORMS WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. A
FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR THE
POTOMAC HIGHLANDS...WHERE THE RISK OF FLASH FLOODING IS HIGHEST.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS IN EFFECT. RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 27, 12:19 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
119 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0521 PM     HAIL             1 SW MILL GAP           38.31N  79.72W
05/26/2011  M1.00 INCH       HIGHLAND           VA   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX1100795

SBK

Local storm report, May 27, 12:20 PM EST, 2 hours 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
120 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 PM     HAIL             1 SW MILL GAP           38.31N  79.72W
05/26/2011  M1.25 INCH       HIGHLAND           VA   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX1100796

SBK

Local storm report, May 27, 1:39 PM EST, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
239 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1150 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNE OLD FIELDS        39.16N  78.94W
05/26/2011                   HARDY              WV   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL TRESS DOWN ALONG ROUTE 28 NORTH OF OLD FIELDS.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX1100797

SBK

Local storm report, May 27, 1:41 PM EST, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
241 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1210 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MATHIAS                 38.88N  78.87W
05/27/2011                   HARDY              WV   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN AND AROUND MATHIAS.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX1100798

SBK

Special weather statement, May 27, 1:46 PM EST, 35 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
246 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

MDZ501-WVZ503-271915-
EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY MD-WESTERN MINERAL WV-
246 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY AND WESTERN
MINERAL COUNTIES...

AT 246 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
KITZMILLER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE PIEDMONT...WESTERNPORT AND LONACONING.

HEAVY RAIN WITH THIS STORM MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE MILE
AND MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

&&

LAT...LON 3959 7895 3938 7904 3931 7911 3933 7928
      3935 7926 3937 7922 3943 7912 3948 7910
      3948 7907 3959 7902 3960 7900
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 216DEG 19KT 3940 7915

BAJ

Special weather statement, May 27, 2:06 PM EST, 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
306 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

MDZ501-271930-
EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY MD-
306 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY COUNTY...

AT 306 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
BARTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE LONACONING AND FROSTBURG.

HEAVY RAIN WITH THIS STORM MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE MILE
AND MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.

PENNY-SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.

&&

LAT...LON 3972 7878 3948 7906 3949 7907 3972 7894
      3973 7893 3973 7878
TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 210DEG 26KT 3954 7905

BAJ

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 145 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:20 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Allegany

When: May 27, 2:21 PM EST
Where: Allegany County, 0.87 mi SSE of Carlos
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.609, -78.961

Quarter sized hail was reported near Woodland.

Hail, Allegany

When: May 27, 2:29 PM EST
Where: Allegany County, 0.55 mi WSW of Eckhart Mines
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.647, -78.910

Hail up to the size of half dollars was reported near Eckhart Mines.

Hail, Allegany

When: May 27, 2:32 PM EST
Where: Allegany County, 0.74 mi NW of Eckhart Mines
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.657, -78.910

Quarter sized hail was reported near Eckhart Mines.

Hail, Allegany

When: May 27, 4:45 PM EST
Where: Allegany County, 1.33 mi N of Pleasant Vly
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.719, -78.633

Golf ball sized hail was reported near Pleasant Valley.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 27, 6:43 PM EST
Where: Washington County, Sharpsburg
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 39.450, -77.750

A tree was down in Sharpsburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: May 27, 6:59 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 0.95 mi WNW of Gaithersburg
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 39.134, -77.217

A wind gust of 60 mph was measured in Gaithersburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 27, 7:11 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 1.58 mi W of Ringgold
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 39.720, -77.600

A thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph was estimated near Ringgold based on a report of thunderstorm wind damage nearby.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: May 27, 7:39 PM EST
Where: Carroll County, 0.2 mi E of Pipe Creek Mill
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.670, -77.096

A tree four inches in diameter was destroyed near Taneytown. Two trees that were eight inches in diameter were split in half.

Thunderstorm Wind, Baltimore

When: May 27, 7:50 PM EST
Where: Baltimore County, 0.61 mi SE of Owings Mills
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.414, -76.772

A tree was down blocking the roadway near the intersection of Reisterstown Road and St. Thomas lane.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maryland in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Maryland, May 2011

Sources

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: 312769, 312770, 312771, 312772, 312785, 312786, 312787, 312788, 312789.