Maryland, 2012Coastal Flood in Maryland, December 21, 2012
December 21, 2012 · NWS AKQ · 2 events in 2 counties and zones
A rapidly deepening low pressure system moved northeast from western North Carolina into eastern Pennsylvania from the evening of December 20th, into the morning of December 21st. This drove a strong southeast wind with frequent gale force gusts over the Chesapeake Bay, which allowed water to flow up the Bay during the late evening and early overnight hours.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $300,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
A rapidly deepening low pressure system moved northeast from western North Carolina into eastern Pennsylvania from the evening of December 20th, into the morning of December 21st. This drove a strong southeast wind with frequent gale force gusts over the Chesapeake Bay, which allowed water to flow up the Bay during the late evening and early overnight hours. The passage of a cold front around 5-6 am EST produced an abrupt wind shift to the west, which pushed water into the inlets on the western side of the Delmarva. Due to the very strong winds, moderate to severe coastal flooding was observed across portions of Dorchester and Somerset counties.
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 Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 21, 4:25 AM EST, 35 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 21, 4:25 AM EST, 35 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 21, 4:38 AM EST, 22 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>073-079>084-087>098-220945-
NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK-
BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-FLUVANNA-LOUISA-
PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE-MECKLENBURG-
LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO-KING WILLIAM-
KING AND QUEEN-BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE-CHARLES CITY-
NEW KENT-GLOUCESTER-GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX-SURRY-JAMES CITY-YORK-
SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-
SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE-VIRGINIA BEACH-
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA...INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...THE NORTHERN OUTER
BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EAST CENTRAL
VIRGINIA...INTERIOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL
VIRGINIA...SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF
VIRGINIA...THE PENINSULA OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF
CENTRAL VIRGINIA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
FREQUENT WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED TODAY. WINDS MAY
OCCASIONALLY GUST TO 40 MPH ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
GUSTY WINDS UP TO 35 MPH WILL BE COMMON AGAIN ON SATURDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
ANZ630>632-634-638-650-652-654-656-658-220945-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SMITH POINT TO WINDMILL POINT VA-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM WINDMILL POINT TO NEW POINT COMFORT VA-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NEW POINT COMFORT TO LITTLE CREEK VA-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM LITTLE CREEK TO CAPE HENRY VA...INCLUDING THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE TUNNEL-
JAMES RIVER FROM THE JAMES RIVER BRIDGE TO THE HAMPTON ROADS BRIDGE-
TUNNEL-
COASTAL WATERS FROM FENWICK ISLAND DE TO CHINCOTEAGUE VA OUT TO
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CHINCOTEAGUE TO PARRAMORE ISLAND VA OUT TO 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PARRAMORE ISLAND TO CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA OUT TO
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA TO NC VA BORDER OUT TO
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM NC VA BORDER TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NC OUT TO
20 NM-
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST SATURDAY...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE
BAY...THE LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS
AND THE EASTERN JAMES RIVER.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
GALE WARNING.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
GALE WARNING.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
ANZ633-635>637-220945-
CURRITUCK SOUND-RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER FROM URBANNA TO WINDMILL POINT-
YORK RIVER-JAMES RIVER FROM JAMESTOWN TO THE JAMES RIVER BRIDGE-
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST SATURDAY...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CURRITUCK SOUND...THE EASTERN
JAMES RIVER...THE EASTERN RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AND THE EASTERN YORK
RIVER.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
VAZ099-220945-
ACCOMACK-
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST THIS MORNING...
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST EARLY THIS MORNING...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
WIND ADVISORY.
COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
GUSTY WINDS UP TO 45 MPH WILL OCCUR ON SATURDAY. A WINDY ADVISORY
MAY BE NEEDED.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
MDZ024-025-220945-
INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES-
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST EARLY THIS
MORNING...
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST EARLY THIS MORNING...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF
MARYLAND.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
WIND ADVISORY.
COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
GUSTY WINDS BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH WILL OCCUR ON SATURDAY. A WINDY
ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
MDZ021>023-220945-
DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF
MARYLAND.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY.
FREQUENT WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED TODAY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
GUSTY WINDS BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH WILL OCCUR ON SATURDAY. A WINDY
ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
VAZ074>078-085-086-220945-
ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND-NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-MIDDLESEX-
MATHEWS-
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF
VIRGINIA AND THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
FREQUENT WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED TODAY. WINDS MAY
OCCASIONALLY GUST TO 40 MPH NEAR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
GUSTY WINDS BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH WILL OCCUR ON SATURDAY. A WINDY
ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
VAZ100-220945-
NORTHAMPTON VA-
438 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST EARLY THIS MORNING...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
WIND ADVISORY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
GUSTY WINDS UP TO 45 MPH WILL OCCUR ON SATURDAY. A WINDY ADVISORY
MAY BE NEEDED.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Dec 21, 1:08 AM EST, 3 hours 52 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
108 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
MDZ021>023-210730-
DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CAMBRIDGE...SALISBURY...CRISFIELD...
PRINCESS ANNE
108 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
...GUSTY SHOWERS CROSSING THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE EARLY
THIS MORNING...
A BAND OF GUSTY SHOWERS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LOWER MARYLAND
EASTERN SHORE THROUGH 230 AM. WIND GUSTS WITH THESE SHOWERS WILL
REACH AS HIGH AS 45 TO 50 MPH.
Special weather statement, Dec 21, 3:38 AM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
MDZ021>023-211030-
DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CAMBRIDGE...SALISBURY...CRISFIELD...
PRINCESS ANNE
338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
...GUSTY SHOWERS CROSSING THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE EARLY
THIS MORNING...
A LINE OF GUSTY SHOWERS AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE THROUGH 530 AM. WIND GUSTS WITH
THESE SHOWERS WILL REACH AS HIGH AS 45 TO 50 MPH.
Coastal Flood, Dorchester
- When
- December 21, 5:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
- Where
- Dorchester forecast zone
- Property damage
- $200,000
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 38.423, -76.083 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Water levels reached 3.0 feet to 4.0 feet above normal adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay resulting in moderate to severe coastal flooding. Cambridge reached a tide height of 4.7 feet MLLW at high tide and spent nearly 7 hours above 4.0 feet MLLW. Bishops Head reached a tide height of 4.12 feet MLLW and spent 2 hours at or above 4.0 feet MLLW. Many roads were flooded in Cambridge including Water Street, Main Street, and Oakley Street. Also, Great Marsh Park in Cambridge was underwater. Ambulance driver reported 8-10 inches of water on Taylors Island Road.
Coastal Flood, Somerset
- When
- December 21, 5:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
- Where
- Somerset forecast zone
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 38.080, -75.853 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Water levels reached 3.0 feet to 4.0 feet above normal adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay resulting in moderate to severe coastal flooding. Most roads in Crisfield were flooded and impassable to small vehicles.
- Coastal Flood
- Flooding of coastal land by the sea, from storm surge, onshore wind or high tides.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Vermont, December 21 to 23, 20122 deaths · $355,000 · 63 kt wind · 11 events
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in California, December 21 to 23, 20121 death · 2 injured · $3.4 million · EF0 · 37 events
- Winter Storm and Avalanche in California, December 21 to 24, 20121 death · 4 events
- High Surf in Puerto Rico, December 21 to 25, 20121 death · 1 event
- Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, December 21 to 22, 2012$250,000 · 2 events
- Winter Storm in Ohio, December 21 to 22, 2012$150,000 · 2 events
- Coastal Flood in Virginia, December 21, 2012$150,000 · 1 event
- Flooding and Coastal Flood in New Jersey, December 21 to 23, 2012$30,000 · 56 kt wind · 34 events
- High Wind in New York, December 21, 2012$100,000 · 53 kt wind · 2 events
- Winter Storm and Dense Fog in California, December 21 to 27, 2012$60,000 · 8 events
- Winter Storm in New York, December 21 to 22, 2012$51,000 · 5 events
- High Wind in New York, December 21, 2012$45,000 · 50 kt wind · 4 events
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 424153, 424154.