A nearly stationary front drifted east into the Potomac Highlands during the afternoon. Thunderstorms trained over the same area for several hours across locations that had saturated ground.
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 front drifted east into the Potomac Highlands during the afternoon. Thunderstorms trained over the same area for several hours across locations that had saturated ground. Flash flooding resulted in Mineral County.
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, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
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 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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
518 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0647 PM HAIL 2 ESE ARDEN 39.40N 78.02W
05/26/2011 M1.25 INCH BERKELEY WV PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1100812
SBKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
528 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 PM HAIL 1 S RIDGELEY 39.63N 78.77W
05/27/2011 E0.88 INCH MINERAL WV TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1100814
LISTEMAAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
536 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0525 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 S CUMBERLAND 39.63N 78.76W
05/27/2011 ALLEGANY MD TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1100815
LISTEMAAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
537 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 PM HAIL 2 S CUMBERLAND 39.63N 78.76W
05/27/2011 E0.88 INCH ALLEGANY MD TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
CORRECTED COUNTY/STATE...LOCATION
EVENT NUMBER LWX1100814
LISTEMAASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
538 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011
VAZ038>040-050-051-056-272215-
ORANGE VA-GREENE VA-MADISON VA-CULPEPER VA-RAPPAHANNOCK VA-
SPOTSYLVANIA VA-
538 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT ORANGE...GREENE...MADISON...
CULPEPER...RAPPAHANNOCK AND SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTIES...
AT 539 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM BURTONVILLE TO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THORNHILL...
MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE ORANGE...MADISON...CULPEPER AND
SPERRYVILLE.
HEAVY RAIN WITH THESE STORMS MAY 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 3812 7798 3813 7800 3813 7806 3814 7808
3812 7820 3828 7847 3870 7830 3839 7778
3811 7790
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 198DEG 29KT 3832 7834 3812 7801
BAJPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
548 PM EDT FRI MAY 27 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0547 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 SSE RIDGELEY 39.63N 78.77W
05/27/2011 ALLEGANY MD AMATEUR RADIO
CAR STUCK IN WATER OVER RAOD AT THE SUBWAY UNDERPASS
ALONG VIRGINIA AVENUE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1100816
LISTEMAAThe Sterling radar (KLWX), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:56 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A home was flooded in a residental area of Short Gap.
Mudslides and rockslides were reported along Route 28.
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, May 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: 310675, 310676.