A trough of low pressure triggered showers and thunderstorms on the 12th. Moderate instability caused a couple thunderstorms to produce damaging winds in central Virginia.
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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 trough of low pressure triggered showers and thunderstorms on the 12th. Moderate instability caused a couple thunderstorms to produce damaging winds in central Virginia.
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 12, 2:03 PM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 303 PM EDT MON SEP 12 2011 .SYNOPSIS... AN UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE GREAT LAKES LATE TUESDAY BEFORE MOVING THROUGH THE REGION LATE WEDNESDAY. CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS LATE IN THE WEEK...BRINGING NOTICEABLY COOLER CONDITIONS. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/... A POSITIVELY-TILTED UPPER TROUGH WILL SLOWLY PROGRESS EWD ACROSS THE REGION THRU THIS EVE. WEAK CONVERGENCE ALONG A SFC PRESSURE TROUGH IN CONJUNCTION WITH DAYTIME HEATING HAS RESULTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCT SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND SHENANDOAH VLY SO FAR THIS AFTN. TRACKING THE MOVEMENT OF THIS SFC FEATURE BRINGS SCT SHOWERS AND STORMS TOWARD THE BLUE RIDGE BETWEEN ABOUT 3-5 PM AND I-95 CORRIDOR BETWEEN ABOUT 5-8 PM. LIMITED INSTABILITY AND WEAK SHEAR WILL LIMIT ORGANIZATION AND STRENGTH OF CONVECTIVE UPDRAFTS. THERE IS STILL A POTENTIAL FOR SMALL HAIL PRODUCERS AS THE COLD POOL ALOFT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER TROUGH MOVES OVERHEAD. CONVECTION SHOULD WEAKEN AS IT APPROACHES THE CHSPK BAY DUE TO THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. SUBSIDENCE IN WAKE OF UPPER TROUGH WILL LEAD TO CLEARING SKIES LATE THIS EVE AND OVNGT. NOT MUCH OF A PRESSURE GRADIENT BEHIND THE FRONT...SO GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS UNDER LGT WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES WILL ALLOW TEMPS TO DROP INTO THE 50S ACROSS THE WESTERN SUBURBS OF DC AND BALTIMORE... AND 60S IN THE URBAN AND COASTAL LOCATIONS. PATCHY FOG WILL BE FAVORED IN THE COOLER VALLEY AND RURAL AREAS. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM TUESDAY/... THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION WILL BE SITUATED IN BETWEEN THE EXITING UPPER TROUGH THAT IS MOVING INTO THE WRN ATLANTIC AND A COLD FRONT PUSHING THRU THE GREAT LAKES REGION. WITH MSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND SWLY FLOW ADVECTING WARMER AIR INTO THE REGION...TEMPS WILL LIKELY REACH THE MID AND UPPER 80S /THE WARMEST SINCE LATE AUGUST/. SHOWERS AND STORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT SHOULD REMAIN WEST OF THE ALLEGHENY FRONT THRU THE AFTN. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK WILL ROUGHLY MARK THE BEGINNING OF OUR NEXT SEASONAL PATTERN CHANGE. THE TRANSITION HAS ALREADY BEEN OCCURRING GRADUALLY BUT WE COUPLE OF THE FIRST SYSTEMS WILL BE EVIDENCE OF THIS. THOUGH THESE SYSTEMS WILL MAINLY SWING OVER THE GREAT LAKES REGION...THEY WILL BE FAIRLY POTENT FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THESE VORT LOBES WILL BE SLIDING AROUND THE SRN END OF A STRONG UPPER LOW OVER HUDSON BAY. THE MAIN POCKETS OF UPPER LEVEL ENERGY WILL STAY WELL TO THE NORTH...JUST GLANCING NRN NEW ENGLAND. A WEAKENING COLD FRONT WILL BE DRAGGED DOWN TOWARD THE MID ATLC ON WED...BECOMING MAINLY STATIONARY THRU THE END OF THE WEEK AS WE SEE ANOTHER FUNCTION ON THE COMING SEASON /STAGNANT COASTAL SYSTEMS/. LONG TERM GUIDANCE IS TRENDING TOWARD A SLIGHTLY LESS QUIET UPCOMING WEEKEND...AS A WEAK LOW PRESSURE DISTURBANCE GETS CAUGHT BETWEEN A WEAKENING BERMUDA HIGH AND AN UPPER RIDGE OVER THE SRN PLAINS. THE JET STREAM WILL STILL BE TOO FAR NORTH TO PICK UP THE DISTURBANCE AND CARRY IT OUT TOWARD THE N ATLC...SO IT WILL RESIDE OFF THE CAROLINA COAST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. IF THIS SOLUTION HOLDS...IT WILL MEAN SEVERAL DAYS OF CLOUDY SKIES...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A STIFF NELY SFC WIND OVER THE BAY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF ERN/SRN MD - LESSER EFFECTS NW OF THE I-95 CORRIDOR. COOLER TEMPS OVERALL WILL BE THE MAIN STORY IN THE COMING DAYS...AS WE SEE OVERNIGHT LOWS DROPPING WELL INTO THE 40S ACROSS THE WEST /TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK/ AND U40S-L50S FOR THE ERN HALF OF THE CWA. DAYTIME HIGHS WILL COMMONLY ONLY REACH THE 60S AND 70S. && .AVIATION /19Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS AN UPPER TROUGH APPROACHES FROM THE EAST...SCT SHRA/TSRA HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS THE HIGHLANDS AND SHENANDOAH VLY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE AFTN. TRIED TO TIME CONVECTION FOR EACH TAF SITE WITHIN A 2-3 HR WINDOW. HOWEVER...DID NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING MORE THAN VCTS DUE TO THE SCT NATURE OF THIS ACTIVITY. SHRA/TSRA MAY WEAKEN BEFORE IT REACHES BWI/MTN DUE TO THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING...SO DID NOT MENTION VCTS FOR THOSE SITES DUE TO THE LOWER CONFIDENCE OF IMPACT. WITH CLEARING SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS...EXPECT PATCHY FOG TO FORM... ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SUSCEPTIBLE FOG SITES SUCH AS CHO/MRB. FOR NOW KEPT CIGS TO MVFR LVLS WITH BR BETWEEN 06Z-11Z...BUT CANNOT RULE OUT AN HR OR TWO OF IFR VSBYS OUT WEST. VFR CONDITIONS AND LIGHT WSW FLOW FOR TUE. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL SLIDE INTO THE REGION ON WED...AND REMAIN STATIONARY OVER THE REGION INTO THE WEEKEND. LITTLE MORE THAN A FEW SHOWERS AND MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES FOR WX CONCERNS THRU THE REST OF THE WEEK. && .MARINE... SCT SHOWERS AND STORMS FORMING OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN WILL MOVE EWD TOWARD THE WATERS DURING THE LATE AFTN AND ERY EVE HRS. CANNOT RULE OUT A STRONG STORM OR TWO...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE TIDAL POTOMAC BEFORE THIS ACTIVITY WEAKENS WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING THIS EVE AS IT APPROACHES THE CHSPK BAY. BREEZY CONDITIONS /NEAR SCA AT TIMES/ WILL BE APPARENT INTO WED OVER THE BAY FROM A WEAK COLD FRONT THAT WILL STALL OVER THE AREA INTO THE WEEKEND. A POSSIBILITY THAT A WEAK LOW PRESSURE DISTURBANCE OFF THE CAROLINA COAST WILL MAKE FOR A FEW STRAIGHT DAYS OF BREEZY AND CLOUDY CONDITIONS INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... POSITIVE TIDAL ANOMALIES AROUND 1-1.25 FT THIS MRNG HAVE BEEN GRADUALLY DROPPING THRUOUT THE DAY WITH NW FLOW. CURRENT DEPARTURES AROUND THREE- QUARTERS OF A FOOT ARE EXPECTED TO FURTHER DECREASE AND NOT BRING COASTAL FLOODING PROBLEMS BY THE EVE HIGH TIDE. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...NONE. MD...NONE. VA...NONE. WV...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && KLEIN/GMS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1045 AM EDT MON SEP 12 2011 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 131000- 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- 1045 AM EDT MON SEP 12 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...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FEW STORMS COULD PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS THE WATERS. BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT IF SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FOR PORTIONS OF THE WATERS IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501>504- WVZ050>053-055-501>506-131000- 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- 1045 AM EDT MON SEP 12 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...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 437 PM EDT MON SEP 12 2011 WVZ055-502-122100- HARDY WV-EASTERN GRANT WV- 437 PM EDT MON SEP 12 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT HARDY AND EASTERN GRANT COUNTIES... AT 437 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES NORTH OF RIG...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE MOOREFIELD. HEAVY RAIN WITH THIS STORM WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE MILE AND MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. && LAT...LON 3920 7892 3898 7886 3896 7914 3914 7919 TIME...MOT...LOC 2037Z 314DEG 2KT 3907 7905
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
441 PM EDT MON SEP 12 2011
VAZ027-028-WVZ055-122115-
SHENANDOAH VA-HARDY WV-FREDERICK VA-
441 PM EDT MON SEP 12 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT SHENANDOAH...HARDY AND FREDERICK
COUNTIES...
AT 442 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES
NORTH OF MCCAULEY...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE WARDENSVILLE.
HEAVY RAIN WITH THIS STORM WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE MILE
AND MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
&&
LAT...LON 3913 7866 3913 7862 3915 7860 3914 7857
3910 7851 3912 7848 3912 7845 3914 7844
3913 7841 3890 7852 3902 7877 3913 7872
3915 7868
TIME...MOT...LOC 2042Z 289DEG 5KT 3908 7869SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
450 PM EDT MON SEP 12 2011
VAZ037>039-050-122145-
ORANGE VA-GREENE VA-MADISON VA-ALBEMARLE VA-
450 PM EDT MON SEP 12 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT ORANGE...GREENE...MADISON AND
ALBEMARLE COUNTIES...
AT 451 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM HOOD TO 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF WESTMORELAND TO 3
MILES NORTH OF COVESVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE NORTH GARDEN...COVESVILLE...BARRACKS...
QUINQUE...SHELBY...NEWCOMB HALL...HOLLYMEAD...BURTONVILLE...NEWTOWN
AND DAWSONVILLE.
HEAVY RAIN WITH THESE STORMS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE
MILE AND MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.
&&
LAT...LON 3781 7870 3798 7880 3817 7859 3842 7839
3820 7808 3814 7812 3812 7821 3781 7848
3777 7849 3775 7852 3775 7856 3774 7861
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 315DEG 9KT 3834 7837 3811 7851
3793 7869The Sterling radar (KLWX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:56 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Nine trees were down along Skirmish Road.
A tree fell down on a vehicle at Jefferson Park Avenue and Shamrock Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, September 2011
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: 346864, 346865.