Hurricane Sandy moved up the Atlantic coast and then turned Northwest and made landfall northeast of MD. Heavy rain and high winds over spread coastal regions and most of Maryland.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Hurricane Sandy moved up the Atlantic coast and then turned Northwest and made landfall northeast of MD. Heavy rain and high winds over spread coastal regions and most of Maryland. Heavy rain caused flood and river flooding. As Sandy moved north of the Mid Atlantic, winds switched to southerly and coastal flooding occurred. Blizzard conditions occurred on the backside of Sandy in elevations over 2500 feet in Western Maryland, Virginia, and West 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 Oct 29, 3:15 PM EST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
415 PM EDT MON OCT 29 2012
.SYNOPSIS...
HURRICANE SANDY WAS APPROXIMATELY 220 MILES EAST OF WASHINGTON
D.C. EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THE STORM IS FORECAST TO MOVE CLOSER
TO THE COAST TODAY...AND MOVE INLAND ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY
THIS EVENING. THE POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE WILL THEN TRACK INLAND
INTO PENNSYLVANIA. THIS LARGE STORM WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
TO THE ENTIRE REGION THROUGH MIDWEEK. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE
DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE WORK WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AT 2 PM...SANDY WAS LOCATED ABOUT 220 MILES EAST OF WASHINGTON DC.
SANDY HAS ACCELERATED FROM EARLIER...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 28 MPH WITH
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 90 MPH. SANDY IS FORECAST TO MAKE
LANDFALL ALONG THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST EARLY THIS EVENING /A
LITTLE SOONER/...WITH A LITTLE STRENGTHENING POSSIBLE BEFORE
LANDFALL AS WELL.
EXPECT WINDS TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING AS SANDY MAKES LANDFALL. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY
RESULT IN WIDESPREAD DOWNED TREES AND POWER OUTAGES.
BANDS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO ROTATE WESTWARD THROUGH
THE CWA...LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OF STREAMS...CREEKS AND
FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS.
ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS STORM IS SNOW IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR ABOVE 2000 FT. WITH THE
FORECAST WINDS...THIS WILL RESULT IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. THE
BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SKYLINE DRIVE IN
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK.
SANDY WILL PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC
REGION. FOR A CONCISE SUMMARY OF THREATS AND THEIR IMPACTS PLEASE
SEE THE LATEST SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ON SANDY...SPSLWX. THERE IS
A LINK TO THIS IN BIG RED LETTERS AT THE TOP OF OUR
WEBPAGE...WEATHER.GOV/LWX.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
POST TROPICAL SANDY WILL REMAIN OVER PENNSYLVANIA TUESDAY NIGHT
BEFORE TRACKING INTO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES WEDNESDAY. THE LOW WILL
CONTINUE TO SLOWLY WEAKEN DURING THIS TIME...BUT IT WILL REMAIN
WINDY DUE TO A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT. WIND GUSTS AROUND 30 TO 40
MPH ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY TUESDAY EVENING.
A DOWNSLOPING FLOW WILL ALLOW FOR DRIER CONDITIONS ACROSS MOST
AREAS. A FEW SHOWERS CANNOT BE RULED OUT...ESPECIALLY TUESDAY NIGHT
BUT ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS WILL BE LIGHT. HOWEVER...UPSLOPE
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF THE
ALLEGHENY FRONT. A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM
WEDNESDAY FOR THESE AREAS. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED
LATER WEDNESDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
AN UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH WILL REMAIN OVER THE REGION THROUGH THURSDAY
NIGHT. UPSLOPE SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG AND WEST OF THE
ALLEGHENY FRONT. MOST OTHER LOCATIONS WILL TURN OUT DRY AND CHILLY.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL RETURN BUILD OVERHEAD DURING THE WEEKEND BEFORE A
COLD FRONT POSSIBLY IMPACTS THE AREA EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
SANDY WILL MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST EARLY
THIS EVENING...THEN WILL MOVE INTO PENNSYLVANIA LATER
TONIGHT/TUESDAY. SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FROM RAIN/WIND IS EXPECTED
THROUGH THEN. WIND GUSTS AOA 50 KT WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE INTO
TUESDAY. CIGS HAVE MAINLY BEEN MVFR MOST LIKELY GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF
WIND...BUT VSBYS HAVE BROUGHT IFR CONDITIONS IN MODERATE-HEAVY RAIN
BANDS AND THIS TOO WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT INTO TUESDAY.
CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY IMPROVE TUESDAY NIGHT AND VFR CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED FOR THE MIDDLE AND LATTER PORTIONS OF THE WEEK.
&&
.MARINE...
HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNINGS ON THE MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE BAY AND
LOWER TIDAL POTOMAC AND STORM WARNINGS ON THE UPPER/MIDDLE TIDAL
POTOMAC REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY. STRONGEST WINDS ARE
EXPECTED NOW THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.
WINDS REACHING/EXCEEDING SCA CRITERIA WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE
MARINE AREA THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY
BE NEEDED FOR PORTIONS OF THE WATERS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVERHEAD DURING THE WEEKEND.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
RAINFALL TOTALS AROUND 8 TO 12 INCHES ARE EXPECTED IN THE I-270
CORRIDOR INTO THE BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN AREA. RAINFALL TOTALS
AROUND 5 TO 10 INCHES ARE EXPECTED IN THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN
AREA...LOWER SOUTHERN MARYLAND...AND THE EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST
VIRGINIA. THREE TO SIX INCHES OF RAIN ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE
VIRGINIA PIEDMONT WITH ONE TO THREE INCHES LIKELY ACROSS THE CENTRAL
SHENANDOAH VALLEY INTO CENTRAL VIRGINIA.
RAINFALL RATES AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED IN THE HEAVIEST
BANDS OF RAIN. HEAVY RAIN OVER AN ALREADY SATURATED GROUND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS AND LOCATIONS WHERE
FALLEN LEAVIES /OR PERHAPS OTHER WIND DRIVEN DEBRIS/ MAY CLOG
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. THESE FACTORS ALSO APPLY FOR LONGER-DURATION
STREAM FLOODING...WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND LENGTHY...
EVEN ON STREAMS THAT ARE USUALLY FAST TO RISE AND FALL.
THE URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD THREAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY.
RIVER FLOODING IS EXPECTED BEGINNING LATE THIS EVENING AND LASTING
THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK AHEAD. THE WORST CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
ALONG THE MAINSTEM POTOMAC WHERE MAJOR FLOODING IS EXPECTED
WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. MAJOR FLOODING IS ALSO FORECASTED TUESDAY
AND TUESDAY NIGHT ALONG THE CONOCOCHEAGUE CREEK NEAR FAIRVIEW...THE
OPEQUON CREEK NEAR MARTINSBURG...THE ANTIETAM CREEK NEAR SHARPSBURG
AND THE GOOSE CREEK NEAR LEESBURG.
IF EVERYTHING PLAYS OUT AS FORECAST...THE CREST MAY NOT GET DOWN TO
LITTLE FALLS UNTIL THURSDAY.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
BLOWOUT CONDS REALIZED ON THE UPR BAY/PTMC ATTM. HWVR...THAT BULGE
OF WATER STILL DOWN ON THE LOWER WATERS. HV CANX ADVYS FOR TAFTN
EVERYWHERE EXPECT FOR CALVERT/ST MARYS. THAT PART CAN BE DROPPED
SHORTLY.
ONCE CYCLONE MOVES INLAND...WNDS WL BECOME SLY. XPCTG POSITIVE TIDAL
ANOMOLIES TO RESUME ONCE THAT HPPNS. THIS WL FOCUS ON THE TUE AM AND
TUE PM TIDE CYCLES. LTST GDNC SUGGESTING WATER WL EFFECTIVELY PILE
INTO THE UPR REACHES /BALT HARBOR NWD ON THE BAY..INVOF INSIDE THE
BELTWAY FOR THE PTMC/. HV INCRSD NUMBERS THERE...TO 2 TO 4 FT...AND
WL BE KEEPING DEPARTURES ARND 2 FT ELSW.
&&
.CLIMATE...
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON LOWEST PRESSURE RECORDED AT WASHINGTON DC
AND BALTIMORE MD...BOTH MEASURED IN THE MARCH 1993 SUPER STORM...
WASH DC... 28.54 INCHES HG 966.5 MB MEASURED AT 23Z ON 13 MARCH 1993
BALT MD... 28.52 INCHES HR 965.9 MB MEASURED AT 00Z ON 14 MARCH 1993
THESE VALUES WERE ARRIVED AT BY SEARCHING AN INTERNAL DATABASE OF
OBSERVATIONS MAINTAINED UNOFFICIALLY HERE AT THE WEATHER OFFICE. THE
DATABASE GOES BACK TO 1929.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR DCZ001.
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FROM 2 AM TUESDAY TO 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY
FOR DCZ001.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR DCZ001.
MD...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR MDZ003>007-
009>011-013-014-016>018-501-502.
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FROM 2 AM TUESDAY TO 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY
FOR MDZ007-011-013.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR MDZ003>007-009>011-013-
014-016>018-501-502.
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM EDT
WEDNESDAY FOR MDZ014-016>018.
COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR MDZ017-
018.
VA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR VAZ025>031-
036>040-042-050>057-501>504.
BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR VAZ503-504.
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FROM 2 AM TUESDAY TO 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY
FOR VAZ053-054.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR VAZ027>031-038>040-042-
050>057-501-502.
BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 2 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR VAZ025>027-029-
036>040.
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM EDT
WEDNESDAY FOR VAZ052-055-057.
WV...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR WVZ050>053-055-
501>506.
BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR WVZ501-503-505-
506.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WVZ050>053-055-501>504.
BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 2 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR WVZ055-502.
MARINE...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR
ANZ530>534-537>543.
STORM WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR ANZ535-536.
&&
BPP/BJL/HTS/SMZ<!doctype html>
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions were estimated by heavy snow and strong winds from trained spotters above 2500 feet. Snowfall totaled around a foot of snow from trained spotters and a Utility Company.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, October 2012
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 416483.