Low pressure passed through the area on the 14th. The low tracked along a boundary that separated warm and humid air to the south and west from cooler marine air to the north and east.
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.
Low pressure passed through the area on the 14th. The low tracked along a boundary that separated warm and humid air to the south and west from cooler marine air to the north and east. The warm and humid air led to an unstable atmosphere, and there was enough instability for storms to become severe.
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 14, 11:04 AM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...DELAYED National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 1204 PM EDT Mon May 14 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A front over the area will lift north late today and tonight then drop southward again Tuesday night and Wednesday when it will become stationary across the area through Friday. The front may lift north again during the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Currently, there are no echos being observed by the local radars. Fog has mostly lifted, but low clouds linger, and it may be a struggle today to completely mix them out. Temperatures should rise significantly down towards CHO and west of the Blue Ridge south of MRB, but MRB over towards NHK and points northeast are much more questionable as far as how much the low level cool air mixes out and temps warm up this afternoon. The stationary boundary that has remained stretched across our CWA the past couple of days has been expected to lift northward today, but the speed this occurs at has a good shot of being delayed. That said, with the assistance of passing mid level energy this afternoon and the proximity of the boundary, we are expecting another round of strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Showers and storms are expected to redevelop across and northwest of the region this afternoon. An Enhanced Risk for severe storms encompasses portions of our area, mainly south of the I-70 corridor and west southwest of the District, including much of the Shenandoah Valley and portions of the Potomac Highlands, which is where the warm sector is forecast to reside. Ample CAPE of 2000+ J/KG and sufficient 0-6km shear values of 30- 40 kts will promote conditions favorable for primarily damaging wind gusts and hail. Convection will wane during the evening hours with a drier trend expected overnight. Temperatures will settle in to the mid to upper 60s after seeing highs top out today in the 80s, except northeast of DC where the front will struggle and 70s are more likely. Later tonight, we may get anothe round of low clouds and patchy fog. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... The stationary boundary will lift further northward on Tuesday, residing across Pennsylvania by Tuesday afternoon. Much warmer conditions expected on Tuesday as a result with highs reaching the lower 90s, and humidity values well above normal. We may start with some low clouds and patchy fog, but it should mix out more efficiently than what we are seeing today. Continued showers and thunderstorm chances expected Tuesday afternoon, with another Slight Risk of severe storms possible for much of the area. Shear values will be less on Tuesday, but CAPE should be higher, so strong to severe storms will be possible. The stationary front dips back southward across our area on Wednesday, bringing continued threat for showers and afternoon thunderstorms once again, but with less severe risk. Temperatures will be cooler Wednesday with ample cloud cover and showers around, with highs topping out around 80, and lows in the mid to upper 60s both Tuesday and Wednesday nights. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Tropical moisture will be funneled northward across the mid Atlantic states Thu-Fri between a mid-upper level trough over the lower MS valley and a strong subtropical ridge over the western Atlantic. A stationary front across the area will also act to enhance rainfall over the area. In addition, largely unidirectional flow Thu night also suggests potential for training convection. The Thu night-Fri period looks like the wettest period of the week particularly late Thu night into Fri morning. Widespread amounts of 1 to 2 inches appear likely during this period. 13/18Z MMEFS guidance show potential for river flooding based on the 10 to 50th QPF percentiles. Given all the ingredients described above and increasingly wetter soils, some flooding appears likely this week, but location and timing are still uncertain. It does appear though as the I-95 corridor would be the most vulnerable to flooding. && .AVIATION /16Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... IFR/LIFR conditions being observed across the terminals this morning with low CIGs, though VIS restritions are ending, while winds remain light and variable. These restrictions will slowly continue improving, likely returning to VFR early afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms will return to the terminals this afternoon, bringing episodes of sub-VFR condtions once again, with winds favoring a more southerly trajectory. Low clouds and fog may redevelop again tonight, but should be less persistent tomorrow morning. Another round of showers and storms is expected later Tuesday afternoon and evening. The persistent stationary boundary will lingering across the Mid Atlantic through midweek, bringing plenty of clouds and rain chances to the terminals. Sub-VFR conditions will be possible through this period as a result, with winds generally remaining 10 knots or less, outside of convection. IFR conditions seem likely Thu night-Fri morning with heavy rain. && .MARINE... No headlines expected through tonight with light winds prevailing over the waters. Afternoon and early evening showers/thunderstorms will once again cross the waters, bringing the threat for gusty winds which could result in Special Marine Warnings. SCA conditions possible during the day on Tuesday as southerly winds increase and become gusty. Sub SCA conditions likely return through Wednesday night as light winds prevail. With the persistent stationary boundary remaining near the area, periods of showers and thunderstorms will continue each day, bringing the possibility for Special Marine Warnings should conditions warrant. SCA conditions possible Fri afternoon into Sat in southerly flow. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Minor coastal flooding possible at Annapolis and Straits Point during the late evening/early morning high tide cycle next few days. New minor coastal flood thresholds are expected to be implemented on Tue for Annapolis and Straits Point assuming there is no flooding ongoing which may temper the coastal flood threat somewhat. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...LFR NEAR TERM...BKF SHORT TERM...BKF LONG TERM...LFR AVIATION...BKF/LFR MARINE...BKF/LFR TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 153 PM EDT Mon May 14 2018 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-151800- 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-Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges- Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Southeast Harford- Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax- Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Stafford-Spotsylvania- King George- 153 PM EDT Mon May 14 2018 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 through 9 PM. Scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and large hail are possible this afternoon and evening. The greatest risk is south of U.S. Highway 50. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and large hail are possible again Tuesday afternoon and evening. Heavy rains Thursday night and Friday may result in small stream and urban flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed later today. MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053- 055-501>506-151800- Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore- Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany- Northwest Montgomery-Central and Southeast Montgomery- Northwest Howard-Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford- Augusta-Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke- Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper- Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Highland- Eastern Highland-Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun- Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge- Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-Western Grant- Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-Western Pendleton- Eastern Pendleton- 153 PM EDT Mon May 14 2018 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 through 9 PM. Scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and large hail are possible across eastern West Virginia, western Maryland, and central, northern, and western Virginia this afternoon and evening. Scattered incidents of flooding are possible along the northern and central Virginia Blue Ridge into the Piedmont. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and large hail are possible again Tuesday. Scattered incidents of flooding are possible across all of northern Maryland and parts of eastern West Virginia Tuesday night and across southern Maryland Wednesday and Wednesday night. Heavy rains Thursday night and Friday may result in flooding of small streams and rivers. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters activation may be needed later today.
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 159 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:26 UTC.
45 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree limb was down and siding damage was reported to a home.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
A camper was blown over. Several sheds were rolled.
A bank roof was damaged.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
A tree was down on Shelby and Wolftown Hood Road.
A tree was down blocking the roadway at Dairy Road and the Seminole Trail.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Golf ball sized hail was reported.
Several trees were down in Luray and siding was stripped from a home.
A tree was down near the intersection of Carpers Pike and Northwestern Pike.
Multiple trees were down shutting down Route 42 near Conicville.
A tree was down along the 2400 Block of Wardensville Grade.
Multiple trees were down along Hopkins Gap Road.
A tree was down near the intersection of Tasker Road and Lakeside Drive.
A tree was down near the intersection of Janeville Road and Senseny Road.
Numerous trees and wires were down along Singers Glen Road.
A tree was down near the intersection of Gravels Road and Irish Path.
Two trees were down on Route 7.
Multiple trees were down at a residency on Cider Mill Road.
A tree was down at Route 55 and High Knob Road and another tree was down on power lines just north of that intersection.
A large tree was uprooted and siding was blown off a home.
A tree was down in Mount Sidney.
Multiple trees were down at Sadley Road and Lee Highway.
Multiple trees were down along Browns Gap Road.
A tree fell into a home.
A tree fell onto N. Blue Ridge Turnpike.
Two trees were down at US 15 and US 29.
Many large trees were uprooted and snapped in communities around Waterfall Road.
Three trees were down along with a damaged fence.
A tree was down.
A tree fell into a home.
A tree was down along Leland and Route 28.
A tree was down along Neil Court blocking the roadway.
A wind gust of 63 mph was measured at the Manassas Airport.
A tree fell onto the S. Blue Ridge Turnpike.
Trees were down along Glade Drive and Soapstone Drive.
Eastbound lanes of Leesburg Pike were closed at Beulah Road due to trees on the roadway.
A tree was down on Popular Drive near the Fairfax County Parkway.
A tree was down in the yard.
Golf ball sized hail was reported.
A wind gust of 58 mph was reported at Dulles Airport.
Multiple trees were down in the Lake of the Woods Community.
Windows were blown out of an apartment building near Dunn Loring Metro.
Multiple trees and wires were down along Gordon Road near Smith Station Road.
Trees were down along Old Battlefield Road.
A downed tree was near the intersection of Harrison Road and Battlefield Green Drive.
Quarter sized hail was reported near Lovingston.
A large tree limb was down blocking the 700 Block of Maury Street.
A tree fell onto a car along the George Washington Parkway near the Beltway.
A tree was down along the 14000 Block of Salem Church Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, May 2018
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: 753886, 753878, 753887, 753889, 753879, 753891, 753893, 753880, 753881, 753894, 753897, 753909, 753898, 753900, 753903, 753905, 753912, 753913, 754501, 754502, 753914, 753915, 753916, 753919, 753922, 754500, 753921, 754503, 754505, 754506, 754509, 754511, 754507, 754512, 754523, 754510, 754513, 754515, 754522, 754525, and more.