A weak boundary combined with a warm and humid air mass to trigger some showers and thunderstorms. An isolated thunderstorm became severe.
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.
A weak boundary combined with a warm and humid air mass to trigger some showers and thunderstorms. An isolated thunderstorm became 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 31, 2:13 PM EST, 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
313 PM EDT Thu May 31 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
A warm and moist air mass will remain across the region. A front
will approach the region from the northwest late Friday and
into the weekend as low pressure develops over Pennsylvania,
slowly drifting southward this weekend. High pressure will build
in to the region from the northwest early next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
PWATs remain at or above 2 inches from I-81 and areas to the
east. Surface based CAPE is at or above 1500 J/kg from along
I-66 and areas south. This also about 20 to 25 knots of shear
over northwest Virginia and parts of eastern West Virginia. All
of these factors will lead to heavy showers and thunderstorms
through the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening.
Current radar at 3pm reveals a line of showers and embedded
thunderstorms extending along I-81 from the PA and MD state line
to near Harrisonburg, Virginia. Isolated individual showers have
developed across the Virginia Piedmont. A second line is moving
east across central West Virginia along and east of I-79. We
anticipate that this second line will gradually affect our
region late this afternoon in the western zones and eastern
zones during the evening. Given our moist antecedent
conditions, a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for a large
portion of our northern, central and eastern zones through this
evening. Some activity could linger but probably not of strong
to severe magnitude in terms of thunderstorms; however, flooding
could be a different story in terms of severity.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
A front will drop south from the Great Lakes, providing a
boundary to help focus convection. Otherwise, the air mass will
be just as moist and unstable...supportive of heavy rain and wet
microbursts. Will maintain numerous showers and thunderstorms.
By Saturday, the upper low will stall and cut off atop the mid
Atlantic, which would support additional rounds of showers and
storms. Given the upper level support, am hesitant to place much
timing into forecast.
Showers and a few thunderstorms could linger Saturday night with
the low cut off across the region. Additional flooding could
obviously continue to be a problem.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
On Sunday morning, latest guidance from the GFS and ECMWF continues
to show a closed upper low positioned somewhere near the Delmarva
Peninsula. However, these models vary greatly in their placement of
the associated surface low. The GFS has this feature over Delmarva,
while the ECMWF positions the surface low well offshore. Either
solution still has some amount of rain falling across the area
Sunday morning. Showers and thunderstorms remain possible into the
afternoon as well. High temperatures will struggle to get out of the
low 70's.
A much stronger cutoff upper low will drop down out of the Great
Lakes on Monday and move more quickly out to sea. A surface low
paired with this system will move across the region during the
same time period, then gradually move out to sea and then up the
northeast coast on Tuesday. As this system moves out of the
area, so do rain chances. Tuesday should be the beginning of a
more settled weather pattern, as the tropical air mass should
finally get pushed out of the region. This drier pattern should
continue for the remainder of the long term period.
Temperatures will remain below normal Monday through Wednesday, with
highs only in the middle 70's at best.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Some low clouds still persist in the BWI and MTN terminals with
MVFR conditions. Elsewhere, CIGS raised to VFR. Heavy showers
with embedded thunderstorms are moving east across MRB, are
within 10 miles north of CHO, and should impact the IAD terminal
by the 4 to 430 pm time frame. Additional showers and
thunderstorms will continue to develop and affect the terminals
later this afternoon and into this evening.
Little change in the weather pattern for the next few days. Thus,
daily showers/thunderstorms likely Friday, especially aftn-eve,
into at least Sat, with accompanying flight restrictions. Also
anticipate low clouds/fog each early morning.
Showers and thunderstorms likely again on Sunday, and remaining
possible into Monday as well. Flight restrictions are possible both
Sunday and Monday.
&&
.MARINE...
Due to a weak pressure gradient through the end of the week,
winds are not expected to reach SCA criteria. Southerly winds
this afternoon will eventually become western Saturday.
Sunday and Monday, small craft threshold winds are probable
with tight surface pressure gradient with surface low just off
the coast.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
A prolonged period of high PWATs (1.75-2 inches) with deep warm
cloud layers (12-13+ kft) combined with a stalled front near or
over the Mid-Atlantic will lead to repeated threats of flooding
over the next several days. Please stay tuned for later watches
and possible warnings, and heed the advice of local officials.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...Flash Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Friday for DCZ001.
MD...Flash Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for MDZ003-004-
502.
Flash Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Friday for MDZ005-006-011-013-
014-503>508.
VA...Flash Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for VAZ026>031-
039-040-051-501-505-507.
Flash Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Friday for VAZ052>054-502-506.
WV...Flash Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for WVZ050>053-
055-502-504.
MARINE...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...KLW
NEAR TERM...KLW
SHORT TERM...KLW
LONG TERM...CJL
AVIATION...KLW/CJL
MARINE...KLW/CJL
HYDROLOGY...KLWHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 1155 AM EDT Thu May 31 2018 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-011600- 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- 1155 AM EDT Thu May 31 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 Numerous showers and thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rain will develop this afternoon and evening, and may continue overnight. These showers and thunderstorms will be slow- moving across wet ground, and capable of producing localized flooding. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the Baltimore- Washington metropolitan area. Heavier thunderstorms could produce brief gusty winds over the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. Special Marine Warnings may be needed this afternoon and evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Numerous rounds of showers and thunderstorms capable of heavy rain will continue through at least Saturday. These showers and thunderstorms will be slow-moving across wet ground, and capable of producing additional localized flooding...or exacerbate any potential ongoing flooding. Thunderstorms could produce gusty winds over the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay Friday. Special Marine Warnings may be needed. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Skywarn spotters should report any flooding or precipitation totals per established protocols. MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053- 055-501>506-011600- 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- 1155 AM EDT Thu May 31 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 Numerous showers and thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rain will develop this afternoon hours, continuing into the evening and perhaps overnight. These showers and thunderstorms will be slow- moving across wet ground, and capable of producing localized flooding or exacerbate ongoing flooding. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for eastern portions of the Potomac Highlands, the Interstate 81 corridor between Harrisonburg and Hagerstown and east to the Baltimore- Washington metropolitan area. The strongest thunderstorms could also produce damaging wind gusts and hail this afternoon into this evening, particularly along and west of I-81. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Numerous rounds of showers and thunderstorms capable of heavy rain will continue through at least Saturday. These showers and thunderstorms will be slow-moving across wet ground, and capable of producing additional localized flooding...or exacerbate any potential ongoing flooding. Thunderstorms could also produce damaging wind gusts and hail over eastern parts of West Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and parts of southern Maryland Friday afternoon and evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Skywarn spotters should report any flooding or precipitation totals per established protocols.
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:26 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees and limbs were down on King Street, including one tree that fell into a house along the 1300 Block.
Large diameter branches were down in Martinsburg at West King Street and Georgia Avenue.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in West 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: 754601, 754602.