A nearly stationary low pressure trough existing in a moist and unstable atmosphere aided in the development of showers and thunderstorms across Hamsphire County. Slow storm movement and very high rainfall rates prompted an isolated flash flood near Capon Bridge.
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 nearly stationary low pressure trough existing in a moist and unstable atmosphere aided in the development of showers and thunderstorms across Hamsphire County. Slow storm movement and very high rainfall rates prompted an isolated flash flood near Capon Bridge. A spotter measured 2.80 inches of rain near the event.
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 7, 8:23 PM EST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
923 PM EDT THU JUL 7 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT OVER THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC STATES WILL MOVE
SOUTHWARD TOWARD NORTHERN MARYLAND TODAY BEFORE STALLING OVER THE
AREA THROUGH TOMORROW. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION
THIS WEEKEND. THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES WILL BECOME SITUATED BETWEEN
HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES AND LOW PRESSURE OVER
EASTERN CANADA EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
NEARLY STATIONARY BNDRY HAS BEEN SKEWED TO A MORE NW-SE
ORIENTATION DUE TO CNVCTN ACRS NE MD...NOW DRAPED ROUGHLY ALONG
POTOMAC RIVER. SVRL WET MICROBURST ACRS NRN CWA EARLIER THIS
EVE...BUT WITH DIURNAL INSTABILITY WANING...STORM INTENSITY HAS
BEEN AND SHUD CONT DCRSG. HVY RN...2-4 INCHES ACRS PORTIONS OF
INNER BALTIMORE METRO HAS CAUSED LOCALIZED FLASH FLOOD
PROBLEMS...WHICH TOO SHUD DIMINISH AS CNVCTN WEAKENS. POPS
GRADUALLY LOWER TO CHC/SLIGHT CHC AFTR MIDNIGHT...WITH BEST PROBS
ACRS NRN ZONES...CLOSER TO SFC BNDRY. PREV DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...
LOW TEMPS WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 60S ACROSS THE HIGH ELEVATIONS
TO MID 70S IN THE CITIES AND ALONG THE COAST. CLOUD COVER SHOULD
PREVENT WIDESPREAD AND DENSE FOG ERY FRI MRNG.
AN UPPER TROUGH WILL APPROACH FROM THE OH VLY WHILE A STRENGTHENING
UPPER-LEVEL JET STREAK MOVES INTO THE NORTHEAST STATES ON FRI. SLY
FLOW AHEAD OF THE TROUGH WILL DRAW TROPICAL MOISTURE NWD INTO THE
MID-ATLANTIC STATES WHILE THE SFC BOUNDARY REMAINS STALLED OVER THE
AREA. SHOWER AND STORMS SHOULD INCREASE IN COVERAGE DURING THE
MIDDAY AND AFTN HOURS AS SYNOPTIC LIFT INCREASES.
THE MAIN CONCERN STARTING FRI AFTN WILL BE HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLASH
FLOODING...ESPECIALLY WITH PWATS APPROACHING 2 STANDARD DEVIATIONS
ABOVE NORMAL. SEE HYDRO DISCUSSION FOR MORE DETAILS. ANOTHER
CONCERN WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE TSTMS AS DEEP-LAYER SHEAR
PROFILES INCREASE IN CONCERT WITH DAYTIME DESTABILIZATION.
HOWEVER...THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY FOR THE SEVERE TSTM
POTENTIAL AS THE THREAT WILL DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF DAYTIME
HEATING. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT CLOUD COVER ALONG AND NORTH OF THE
FRONT WILL LIKELY LIMIT HEATING. CENTRAL VA AND SRN MD WILL MOST
LIKELY SEE BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS AND THEREFORE BETTER INSTABILITY.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
S/WV PIVOTS ACRS CWFA FRI EVE...TAKING AXIS OF HVY RAIN W/ IT. PWAT
IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES /CLS TO 2SD ABV NRML/ MOST LKLY CHO-DCA-NAK.
FF WATCH WL CONT THRU 06Z...TO ACCT FOR POTENTIAL OF REPEATED
ECHOES. FNT WL BE SOMEWHAT CAUGHT IN MID LVL FLOW...SO DONT XPCT IT
TO MV THRU QUICKLY. HENCE...LKLY POPS WL STRETCH INTO THE OVNGT HRS.
BUT...STABILITY WL INCR THRU THE NGT...AND WL SHIFT EMPHASIS AWAY FM
THUNDER FOR THE OVNGT HRS.
SHRA CUD LINGER INTO SAT MRNG...BUT THEN HIPRES WL BLD OVR THE
GRTLKS...DRIVING CDFNT FAR ENUF S TO CARVE OUT A DRY WKND. H8 TEMPS
DONT DROP MUCH...SO MAXT FCST WL BE SIMLR TO PAST FEW DAYS /NEAR
90F/...BUT W/ DEWPTS IN THE 60S. MIN-T CLOSE TO MOS MEAN.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
XTNDD SYNOPTIC PTTN FEATURES BROAD MID CONUS H5 RDG AND DOWNSTREAM
TROF SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ERN SEABOARD OR IN THE WRN ATLC. THAT WL
LEAVE A SFC FNT STRETCHED FM W TO E SOMEWHERE IN THE MID ATLC OR
CAROLINAS...WHILE TRANSITORY SFC HIPRES PROTRUDES FM THE GRTLKS/NEW
ENGLND. THE INTERACTION BTWN THESE TWO FEATURES WL DICTATE DIRECT
IMPACT ON SENSIBLE WX W/IN CWFA. AS LONG AS THE FNT IS NEARBY...NEED
TO CONSIDER CHC TSRA DAILY...W/ AN EMPHASIS PLACED ON LT AFTN-ELY
EVNG. GRIDS WL STRIKE THAT BALANCE...W/ MAXT ABV CLIMO MON-TUE WHILE
PRIMARY INFLUENCE COMES FM UPA RDG...THEN TWD CLIMO WED-THU AS SFC
HIPRES POTENTIALLY DRIVES FNT SWD.
&&
.AVIATION /01Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
THUNDERSTORMS CURRENTLY IMPACTING THE BWI AND MTN TERMINALS WILL
DIMINISH THROUGH MIDNIGHT GIVING WAY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES. A LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTHWARD ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST COMBINED
WITH THE SLOW MOVING FRONT CURRENTLY ACROSS THE AREA WILL PRODUCE
WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW.
EXPECT IFR CONDITIONS PERIODICALLY AT ALL AIRPORTS DUE TO HEAVY RAIN
OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITIES AND LOW CIGS AT 2000 FT OR LOWER.
OVERNIGHT...FOG FORMATION WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES ACROSS ALL
TERMINALS.
OVERALL...LIGHT WIND SHIFTING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHERLY WILL
PREVAIL ACROSS THE REGION. HOWEVER...STRONG WIND GUSTS IN SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS COULD IMPACT TERMINALS WELL INTO TOMORROW
EVENING. PREV DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...
POOR FLYING CONDS FRI NGT IN NMRS SHRA/TSRA. PREVAILING MVFR W/ LCL
IFR XPCTD. A WK CDFNT WL PUSH SEWD OVNGT..WHICH WUD END SHRA...BUT
LINGERING LLVL MSTR MAY RSLT IN FOG DVLPMNT. THAT CUD LAST INTO SAT
MRNG. THEREAFTER...VFR THRU THE WKND...AND INTO ELY NXT WK.
&&
.MARINE...
TSTMS MAINLY CONFINED TO NRN PORTIONS OF BAY TNGT...OTHERWISE LGT
WINDS XPCD. PREV DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...
WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN ON FRI.
NMRS TSRA FRI NGT MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LCLLY HIER WNDS/WVS.
OTRW...NW WNDS XPCT TO REMAIN AOB 15 KT THRU THE WKND. STRONGEST
WNDS WL COME SAT AS CDFNT PUSHES S. RTN FLOW WL BEGIN LT SUN.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
12Z GUIDANCE COMING INTO BETTER AGREEMENT OF A HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT
FRI AFTN AND EVE AS A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL ADVANCE TOWARD THE
REGION. ALTHOUGH ANTECEDENT CONDITIONS ARE RELATIVELY DRY/FFG
HIGH...DECENT SYNOPTIC LIFT...A MOIST AIRMASS EMANATING FROM THE
TROPICS...SLOW STORM MOTION AND THE PRESENCE OF A STATIONARY
BOUNDARY ARE AMONG MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO A POTENTIAL FLASH
FLOOD EVENT. HAVE ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF THE AREA
EXCEPT WRN MD...THE ERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE AND EXTREME NW
VIRGINIA. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL NOT BE WIDESPREAD...AND LIKELY BE
FOCUSED ALONG THE FRONT. THEREFORE...THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE FRONT
WILL BE KEY TO DETERMINING WHO GETS MESOSCALE BANDING OF HEAVY
RAINFALL. SEE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MORE DETAILS ON EXPECTED PRECIP
AMOUNTS.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT FOR DCZ001.
MD...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT FOR MDZ004>007-009>011-013-014-016>018.
VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT FOR VAZ025>027-029>031-036>040-042-050>057-501>504.
WV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT FOR WVZ505-506.
MARINE...NONE.
&&
SYNOPSIS...HTS/SBK
NEAR TERM...JRK/SBK
SHORT TERM...HTS
LONG TERM...HTS
AVIATION...CJL/HTS
MARINE...JRK/SBK/HTS
HYDROLOGY...JRKHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 336 PM EDT THU JUL 7 2011 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 081000- 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- 336 PM EDT THU JUL 7 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 SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM ALONG A WEAK FRONT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AND WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND ISOLATED LARGE HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY. THESE SLOW-MOVING STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL AND LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. IN ADDITION...A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND AGAIN ON FRIDAY. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501>504- WVZ050>053-055-501>506-081000- 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- 336 PM EDT THU JUL 7 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 SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM ALONG A WEAK FRONT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AND WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND ISOLATED LARGE HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY. THESE SLOW-MOVING STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL AND LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...AND FOR COMMUNITIES SOUTHEAST OF WINCHESTER AND PETERSBURG. IN ADDITION... A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND AGAIN ON FRIDAY. HTS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1005 PM EDT THU JUL 07 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 WSW DUNDALK 39.26N 76.53W
07/07/2011 BALTIMORE MD 911 CALL CENTER
SWIFT WATER RESCUE AT 94 W DUNDALK AVE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1101117
CJLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1006 PM EDT THU JUL 07 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 E LANSDOWNE 39.24N 76.65W
07/07/2011 BALTIMORE MD 911 CALL CENTER
SWIFT WATER RESCUE AT THE INTERSECTION OF MYRTLE AVE
AND TULIP AVE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1101118
CJLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1008 PM EDT THU JUL 07 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 SSW DUNDALK 39.24N 76.51W
07/07/2011 BALTIMORE MD 911 CALL CENTER
SWIFT WATER RESCUE AT THE INTERSECTION OF N AVONDALE RD
AND SELLERS POINT RD.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1101119
CJLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1009 PM EDT THU JUL 07 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 W DUNDALK 39.27N 76.53W
07/07/2011 BALTIMORE CITY MD 911 CALL CENTER
SWIFT WATER RESCUE AT 2101 DUNDALK AVE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1101120
CJLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1021 PM EDT THU JUL 07 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 WNW MORRELL PARK 39.27N 76.67W
07/07/2011 BALTIMORE CITY MD PUBLIC
BENSON AVENUE AT SOUTH GRANTLEY STREET CLOSED DUE TO
FLASH FLOODING.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1101121
SBKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1022 PM EDT THU JUL 7 2011
MDZ003-VAZ028-031-WVZ050>053-080245-
WASHINGTON MD-CLARKE VA-JEFFERSON WV-HAMPSHIRE WV-BERKELEY WV-
MORGAN WV-FREDERICK VA-
1022 PM EDT THU JUL 7 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT WASHINGTON...CLARKE...JEFFERSON...
HAMPSHIRE...BERKELEY...MORGAN AND FREDERICK COUNTIES...
AT 1022 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM GERRARDSTOWN TO HAYFIELD TO YELLOW SPRING...
MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE INWOOD...WINCHESTER...GREENWOOD...MILLWOOD
PIKE AND RANSON.
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 CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
&&
LAT...LON 3942 7769 3921 7792 3906 7809 3917 7860
3927 7842 3947 7812
TIME...MOT...LOC 0222Z 272DEG 14KT 3937 7807 3923 7824
3917 7850The Sterling radar (KLWX), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:28 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Route 50 was closed due to flash flooding west of Capon Bridge.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, July 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: 337442.