Hail, Washington
- When
- May 3, 6:55 PM EST
- Where
- Washington County, 0.41 mi N of Clear Spg
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 39.656, -77.931
Quarter sized hail was reported in Clear Spring.
Hail in Maryland, May 3, 2012
A stationary boundary remained over the region on the third. Moderate instability combined with forcing from the front to trigger some showers and thunderstorms.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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 stationary boundary remained over the region on the third. Moderate instability combined with forcing from the front to trigger some showers and thunderstorms. A few thunderstorms became 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 3, 1:53 PM EST, 5 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 3, 1:53 PM EST, 5 hours 2 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 253 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012 .SYNOPSIS... AN UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL PASS THROUGH THE REGION TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY BEFORE A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT. CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHWARD THIS WEEKEND BEFORE MOVING OFF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST MONDAY. && .NEAR TERM /TONIGHT/... A SPL 18Z BALLOON WAS LAUNCHED - ONLY AS A TEST BUT THERE IS UPPER AIR DATA. AFTR A MRNG WHERE MUCH OF THE MID ATLC RGN WAS OVC IN LOW CLDS A RAPID CLRG TOOK PLACE DURG LATE MRNG LVG CWA UNDER M SUN SKIES. TEMPS NOW RISING...AND MUCH OF CWA SHOULD REACH THE 80S DURG THE NEXT FEW HRS. A FEW RW HV BEGUN TO SPRING UP OVR THE HIGHER TERRAIN. HRRR RUC SHOWS A MORE DVLPD LN OF CNVCTN DVLPG OVR THE MTNS OF PA/MD/VA DURG THE LATE AFTN BUT WEAKENING AS IT MOVES E. I CAN'T CLAIM TO HV GREAT CONFIDENCE THAT THE SCENARIO WL UNFOLD EXACTLY LK THIS- 18Z SNDG SHOWS A WEAK WIND FIELD. MDL SNDGS ARE VARYING WIDELY ON THE AMT OF CAPE THAT WL BE AVBL. SVR THREAT APPEARS MARGINAL AT BEST...BUT OF COURSE WE HV A RDR OPERATOR KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS. BY LATE EVE CNVCTN SHOULD BE DYING DOWN. IF ANY CNVCTV THREAT RMNS IT SHOULD BE W OF THE BLUE RDG. LATE TNGT THERE COULD BE ANOTHER RESURGENCE OF LO LVL MOISTURE...BRINGING LOW CLDS BACK TO THE NERN PART OF THE CWA. BOTH NAM AND GFS DEPICT A LOW LVL INVERSION SETTING UP AT BWI TNGT...AS THESE DID LAST NGT. HOWEVER DO NOT FEEL TNGT'S LOW CLD XPRNC WL BE AS WIDESPREAD AS LAST NGTS. LOWS TEMPS MAINLY IN THE L60S...XCPT MU50S IN NERN MD AND OVR THE HIGHLANDS. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY/... A COLD FNT WL MOVE TO A POSN NEAR THE ERN GRT LKS FRI MRNG. THE SWD PROGRESSION WL BE VERY SLOW...SO MID ATLC LOOKS TO BE IN THE WARM SECTOR THRUT FRI. TEMPS SHOULD MAKE IT INTO THE MU80S DURG THE AFTN. MUCH LK THIS AFTN WIND FIELD IS NOT THAT STRONG. GFS IMPLIES A SHORT WV TRACKING E OF THE APLCHS LATE TMRW WHICH WOULD HELP INITIATE CNVCTN. THE NERN PART OF THE CWA IS OUTLOOKED W/ A SLT RISK. BLV LARGE/GUSTY WINDS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... BACKDOOR COLD FRONT OVER PA WILL SAG SWD THRU THE CWA FRI NGT. ONGOING CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY FROM FRI AFTN WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO THE EVE UNTIL DAYTIME INSTABILITY WANES AROUND SUNSET. IF THE WRN SECTOR OF FRONT BECOMES HELD UP NEAR THE MTS...WHICH SEEMS PLAUSIBLE GIVEN SHALLOW NATURE OF THE BOUNDARY...SHOWERS ACTIVITY MAY LINGER NEAR THE ALLEGHENY FRONT DURING THE OVNGT. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BE JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA BY SAT MRNG. THERE ARE STILL MODEL DIFFERENCES WITH ARRIVAL OF THE DRIER/COLDER AIR IN WAKE OF FROPA...BUT DIFFERENCES ARE CONSIDERABLY SMALLER THAN 24-HR AGO. APPRECIABLE DRY ADVECTION MAY BE DELAYED 6-12 HR POST SFC FROPA... WHICH COULD KEEP SHOWERS/STORMS IN THE FCST DURING THE DAY ON SAT AS A MID-LVL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES THRU. THE BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS WILL BE ACROSS CENTRAL VA AND SRN MD...WHILE NRN LOCALES NEAR THE MASON-DIXON LINE MAY DRY OUT IN THE AFTN. CANADIAN HIPRES NOSES SWD INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES SAT NGT AND SUN BEFORE SHIFTING OFF THE COAST MON. THE DRIEST PERIOD DURING THE ENTIRE 7-DAY FCST APPEARS TO BE THE LATE WEEKEND AND BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. HOWEVER...ELY/UPSLOPE FLOW AROUND THE HIGH MAY PRODUCE ENOUGH LIFT FOR ISO SHOWERS ACROSS THE SRN POTOMAC HIGHLANDS SUN. WX PATTERN BECOMES INCREASINGLY UNSETTLED BY MON NGT OR TUE AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH APPROACHES FROM THE OH VLY. A MORE POTENT NR- STREAM TROUGH IS FCST TO DIG SWD INTO THE GREAT LAKES/OH VLY MIDWEEK. WITH THE MID-ATLANTIC SITUATED IN UNSTABLE WARM SECTOR... SCT SHOWERS AND STORMS LIKELY THRU WED. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... VFR CONDS THIS EVE. LOW ST COULD AGN DVLP LATE TNGT...ALTHO NOT AS WIDESPREAD AS LAST NGT. MVFR CIGS MOST LKLY AT BWI/MTN. TSTMS PSBL FRI AFTN. ALL XCPT CHO COULD SEE STORMS BY LATE FRI AFTN. COLD FRONT MOVING SWD WILL CROSS THE TERMINALS FRI NGT. SCT SHOWERS AND STORMS CONTINUE ERY FRI EVE WILL DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET. ENOUGH SFC INSTABILITY MAY DEVELOP ON SAT FOR ISO-SCT SHOWERS/TSTMS TO DEVELOP ON SAT. SLIGHTLY BETTER CHANCES FOR CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL BE NEAR CHO. NELY COMPONENT TO THE FLOW MAY ADVECT MARINE LAYER INLAND SUN AS HIPRES BUILDS SEWD. A FASTER PROGRESSION OF THE HIGH WOULD FAVOR A MORE ELY COMPONENT TO THE FLOW AND INLAND ADVECTION OF LOW STRATUS SUN MRNG. && .MARINE... WINDS TO RMN BLO SCA VALUES TNGT AND FRI. XCPTN WOULD BE IF TSTMS DVLP FRI AFTN. COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SWD THRU THE WATERS FRI NGT. THREAT OF STRONG TSTMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE WATERS FRI EVE BEFORE STORMS WEAKEN AFTER SUNSET. WINDS WILL BE LGT THRU THE WEEKEND. SLY FLOW INCREASES ERY NEXT WEEK AS HIPRES SHIFTS OFF THE EAST COAST. WINDS MAY INCREASE TO SCA LVLS LATE MON INTO TUE...BUT STILL CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY THIS FAR OUT. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...NONE. MD...NONE. VA...NONE. WV...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && PRODUCTS...WOODY!/JRK
Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 12:42 PM EST, 6 hours 13 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 142 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 041445- 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- 142 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012 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 NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FRIDAY. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY...BUT MAY BE REQUIRED FRIDAY. STORM DAMAGE REPORTS MAY BE PHONED IN TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES OR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501>504- WVZ050>053-055-501>506-041445- 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- 142 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012 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 NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA...NORTHERN VIRGINIA...AND CENTRAL MARYLAND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY...BUT MAY BE REQUIRED FRIDAY. AS ALWAYS...STORM DAMAGE REPORTS MAY BE PHONED IN TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES OR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 3, 5:50 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
650 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012
VAZ504-032315-
EASTERN HIGHLAND VA-
650 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT EASTERN HIGHLAND COUNTY...
AT 650 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LIBERTY...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE LIBERTY AND HEAD WATERS.
DIME-SIZE HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
&&
LAT...LON 3839 7931 3838 7931 3837 7934 3836 7934
3832 7938 3830 7939 3829 7941 3826 7940
3822 7944 3821 7951 3831 7956
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 264DEG 7KT 3827 7950
BAJSpecial weather statement, May 3, 6:17 PM EST, 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
717 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012
MDZ003-032345-
WASHINGTON MD-
717 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY...
AT 717 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 17 MILES WEST OF WARRENTON TO 10 MILES WEST OF
WARRENTON...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE LONG MEADOW.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.
&&
LAT...LON 3966 7759 3966 7800 3972 7815 3973 7815
3973 7778
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 273DEG 16KT 3974 7807 3971 7794
BAJSpecial weather statement, May 3, 6:26 PM EST, 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 726 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012 WVZ052-053-040000- JEFFERSON WV-BERKELEY WV- 726 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT JEFFERSON AND BERKELEY COUNTIES... AT 726 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES NORTH OF MARTINSBURG ARPT...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE WINEBRENNERS CROSSROAD...WINEBRENNERS CROSSROAD...KEARNEYSVILLE AND SHENANDOAH JUNCTION. PENNY-SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. && LAT...LON 3949 7784 3933 7781 3938 7804 3947 7802 TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 274DEG 10KT 3943 7795 BAJ
Local storm report, May 3, 6:27 PM EST, 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
727 PM EDT THU MAY 03 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0726 PM HAIL GERRARDSTOWN 39.37N 78.09W
05/03/2012 M0.75 INCH BERKELEY WV TRAINED SPOTTER
AT MRB MALL... AT INTERSECTION OF RT11 RT45
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1200082
TCHSpecial weather statement, May 3, 6:31 PM EST, 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 731 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012 MDZ003-040000- WASHINGTON MD- 731 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT WASHINGTON COUNTY... AT 731 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF PECKTONVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE CLEAR SPRING...BIG SPRING AND CONOCOCHEAGUE. PENNY-SIZE TO NICKEL-SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. && LAT...LON 3961 7790 3969 7811 3973 7810 3972 7772 TIME...MOT...LOC 2331Z 290DEG 11KT 3969 7800 BAJ
Local storm report, May 3, 6:40 PM EST, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
740 PM EDT THU MAY 03 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0726 PM HAIL 1 SSW MARTINSBURG 39.44N 77.98W
05/03/2012 M0.75 INCH BERKELEY WV TRAINED SPOTTER
AT MRB MALL... AT INTERSECTION OF RT11 RT45
&&
CORRECTED LOCATION
EVENT NUMBER LWX1200082
JACKSONThe radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:58 UTC.
Event by event
4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Frederick
- When
- May 3, 8:54 PM EST
- Where
- Frederick County, 0.78 mi SSE of Mt Ville
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 39.319, -77.516
Quarter sized hail was reported near Buckeystown.
Hail, Frederick
- When
- May 3, 8:54 PM EST
- Where
- Frederick County, 0.78 mi SSE of Mt Ville
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 39.319, -77.516
Quarter sized hail was reported near Doubs.
Hail, Frederick
- When
- May 3, 9:01 PM EST
- Where
- Frederick County, 1.4 mi SE of Adamstown
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 39.307, -77.460
Quarter sized hail was reported near Adamstown.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Iowa, May 3 to 4, 2012
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Michigan, May 3 to 4, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Wisconsin, May 3, 2012
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Michigan, May 3, 2012
- Hail in Nebraska, May 3, 2012
- Hail in New York, May 3, 2012
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Wisconsin, May 3, 2012
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, May 3 to 7, 2012
- Hail and Heavy Rain in Iowa, May 3 to 4, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New York, May 3, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Iowa, May 3, 2012
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Minnesota, May 3, 2012
More
Every storm in Maryland in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, May 2012
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: 383468, 383469, 383478, 383470.