High pressure over the Atlantic led to southerly flow to transport warm humid conditions in the Mid Atlantic. A trough axis led to the development of thunderstorms across the west of the Blue Ridge.
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.
High pressure over the Atlantic led to southerly flow to transport warm humid conditions in the Mid Atlantic. A trough axis led to the development of thunderstorms across the west of the Blue Ridge.
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 22, 2:20 PM EST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
320 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013
.SYNOPSIS...
HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTING OVER THE ATLANTIC WITH WARM AND HUMID
CONDITIONS UNTIL A COLD FRONT THURSDAY NIGHT. AN UPPER TROUGH
WILL LINGER OVER THE AREA FRIDAY WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING
THROUGH SATURDAY. A FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLS OUT ACROSS THE MID-
ATLANTIC SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
HIPRES REMAINS IN THE WRN ATLC WHILE LOPRES RESIDES OVER THE
GRTLKS. SLY FLOW ACRS MID ATLC STATES CREATING A WARM UNSTBL AMS.
TSRA DVLPG ALONG THE WVA APLCHNS...WHERE DEWPTS HIER AND TEMPS
ALOFT A PINCH COOLER. OROGRAPHIC UPLIFT ALSO ASSISTING IN TSTM
DVLPMNT. THIS INITIATION IN LINE W/ WHAT MESOSCALE GDNC HAS
SUGGESTED. NOW THAT THE CAP HAS BEEN BROKEN...THERE/S PLENTY OF
INSTBY TO FEED OFF OF...BUT FEATURES FOR ORGANIZATION SLIGHTLY
LACKING. STILL DO NEED TO MONITOR THE UPR OHVLY WHERE HGTS LWR AS
THIS AREA RIPE FOR DVLPMNT. THAT POSES A SITUATION WHERE THESE
STORMS MAY PROPAGATE INTO AREA. AM KEEPING A LINEUP WHERE LKLY
POPS CONFINED TO THE MTNS AND CHC/SCHC ALONG I-95. THERE IS A
THREAT FOR LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL IN ANY
THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO DEVELOP DUE TO THE HIGH INSTABILITY.
CONVECTION WILL LIKELY DISSIPATE LATER THIS EVENING DUE TO THE LOSS
OF DAYTIME HEATING. HOWEVER...AN UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE IS EXPECTED
TO PASS THROUGH THE REGION LATE TONIGHT AS THE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH
CONTINUES TO SLIDE CLOSER TO OUR AREA. PLENTY OF MOISTURE AND
FORCING FROM THE UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE MAY RESULT IN SCATTERED
SHOWERS/T-STORMS TOWARD MORNING. RAISED APLCHNS TO LKLY. MIN TEMPS
TONIGHT WILL RANGE FROM THE 50S IN THE MOUNTAINS TO THE LOWER AND
MIDDLE 70S IN DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
HGTS CONT TO DROP THU AS CDFNT APPROACHES. ALTHO INSTBY WL BE
LWR...SHEAR WL BE GREATER. THERE MAY BE TWO ROUNDS OF WX...FIRST
COMING MIDDAY WITH THE DISTURBANCE AND RIBBON OF INSTBY...AND THEN
SECOND NEARER THE CDFNT AND DIURNAL HEATING. HV RAISED POPS INTO
THE DEF RANGE RATHER QUICKLY...AND HOLDING IT THERE THRUT THE DAY.
CFP THU NGT. WL SCALE BACK POPS AND TRANSITION FM TSRA TO SHRA IN
THE EVNG. AFTER FROPA...ONLY LINGERING SHRA WL REMAIN.
FRIDAY...UPR TROUGH DRIFTS EAST OVER THE AREA WITH BACK EDGE OF
CLOUDS SLOW TO COME IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTY NWLY FLOW FRIDAY
CONTINUES AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS THROUGH SATURDAY.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
SHORTWAVE FROM TN VLY ON SUNDAY NOW LOOKS TO EXPAND EAST ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN-CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC. CONVERGENCE ALONG THIS BOUNDARY WOULD
SET OFF SHOWERS. PATTERN IS STALLED INTO MID NEXT WEEK...SO A
PROLONGED CLOUDY/RAINY PERIOD IS POSSIBLE. THIS WOULD RESULT IN
BELOW NORMAL TEMPS.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DVLPG...BUT STAYING W OF THE TERMINALS
ATTM. CONCERNED THAT THESE STORMS MAY DRIFT CLOSER...SPCLY FOR
CHO/MRB. HV VCTS IN ALL TAFS FOR THE EVNG DUE TO INSTBY PRESENT...
WHICH MAY LEAD TO ADDTL STORMS DVLPG. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.
WL HV A RESPITE LT EVNG AS DIURNAL COMPONENT LOST. HWVR...ANOTHER
DISTURBANCE WL BE MOVING IN TWD MRNG...LEADING TO POTENTIALLY
ANTHR ROUND OF TSTMS. IFR CONDS POSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIEST ACTIVITY.
THREAT FOR STORMS CONT TIL CFP THURSDAY NIGHT. NWLY FLOW WITH
GUSTS 25 TO POSSIBLY 30 KT WITH MID LEVEL CIGS FRIDAY. NWLY FLOW
CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS.
&&
.MARINE...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN THROUGH TONIGHT. A
SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE WATERS DURING THIS TIME. A
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF THE WATERS
THROUGH TONIGHT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE
LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO
DEVELOP WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.
SLY FLOW AHEAD OF A LATE THURSDAY NIGHT COLD FRONT. SCA EXPANDED
THROUGH THURSDAY. EXPECT AN EXTENSION THURSDAY NIGHT FOR PREFRONTAL
SLY FLOW...THEN NWLY FLOW AROUND 25 KT FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AS
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
A SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE WATERS THROUGH THURSDAY
NIGHT...BUT THE FLOW MAY REMAIN JUST WEST OF SOUTH. TIDAL ANOMALIES
WILL LIKELY INCREASE A LITTLE...BUT WITH THE FLOW REMAINING WEST OF
SOUTH THE WATER LEVELS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW THRESHOLDS FOR MINOR
COASTAL FLOODING. THE CLOSEST WATER LEVELS WILL COME TO MINOR
FLOODING THRESHOLDS WILL BE DURING THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE LATE WEDNESDAY
NIGHT AND LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...THE HIGHER OF THE TWO HIGH TIDES.
TIDAL ANOMALIES WILL DECREASE FRIDAY BEHIND A COLD FRONT.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...NONE.
MD...NONE.
VA...NONE.
WV...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM EDT
THURSDAY FOR ANZ530-531-539.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ535-
538.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ532-536-
540-542.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ533-534-
537-541-543.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 502 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 231015- 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- 502 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013 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...TONIGHT A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF THE MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE BAY AND LOWER TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WATERS THURSDAY. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED THURSDAY NIGHT AND IS LIKELY FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND AGAIN THURSDAY. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501>504- WVZ050>053-055-501>506-231015- 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- 502 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013 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...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL ESPECIALLY TO THE WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS. HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL THURSDAY...ESPECIALLY EAST FROM THE BLUE RIDGE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND AGAIN THURSDAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 208 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013 VAZ027-WVZ050-055-502-221915- EASTERN GRANT WV-HAMPSHIRE WV-HARDY WV-SHENANDOAH VA- 208 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT GRANT...HAMPSHIRE...HARDY AND SHENANDOAH COUNTIES... AT 206 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES SOUTH OF MOOREFIELD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR LOST CITY...MATHIAS AROUND 215 PM...LOST RIVER...MOOREFIELD AROUND 230 PM...BAKER...MCCAULEY AROUND 245 PM...INKERMAN...BEAN SETTLEMENT AROUND 300 PM AND DELRAY AROUND 315 PM. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LAT...LON 3929 7891 3917 7853 3880 7883 3889 7907 FORECASTER: HEAVENER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
224 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013
WVZ501-502-505-506-221930-
EASTERN GRANT WV-EASTERN PENDLETON WV-WESTERN GRANT WV-
WESTERN PENDLETON WV-
224 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT GRANT AND PENDLETON COUNTIES...
AT 222 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 23 MILES EAST OF ELKINS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30
MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR SENECA ROCKS...BRUSHY RUN AROUND
230 PM...LANDES AROUND 245 PM...STREBY...KLINE GAP AROUND 300 PM...
MAYSVILLE...LAHMANSVILLE AROUND 315 PM...BISMARCK AND SCHERR AROUND
330 PM.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3887 7952 3889 7952 3890 7947 3894 7945
3893 7937 3900 7933 3907 7931 3909 7936
3920 7930 3919 7941 3928 7937 3932 7929
3923 7899 3870 7931 3876 7954 3880 7951
3885 7954
FORECASTER: HEAVENERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
425 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0355 PM TSTM WND DMG KEYSER 39.44N 78.98W
05/22/2013 MINERAL WV 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF SOUTH MINERAL ST AND
FORT AVE
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1300177
HTSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
428 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0343 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 WNW ANTIOCH 39.34N 79.07W
05/22/2013 MINERAL WV 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF RTE 50 AND 93
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1300178
HTSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
438 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0245 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S ROMNEY 39.33N 78.76W
05/22/2013 HAMPSHIRE WV TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN ALONG WOODLAND WAY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 50.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1300179
SDGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
547 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW CEDAR HILL 39.29N 78.12W
05/22/2013 FREDERICK VA TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL 4-5 INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS DOWN
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1300180
MEADOWSThe Sterling radar (KLWX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:50 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Back Creek Road was closed due to water running over the road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, May 2013
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: 457547.