A strengthening low pressure system moved up the Appalachians from the afternoon hours of January 23rd through the night and into the early morning hours of January 24th. Strong winds associated with the system led to high wind gusts across the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge.
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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 strengthening low pressure system moved up the Appalachians from the afternoon hours of January 23rd through the night and into the early morning hours of January 24th. Strong winds associated with the system led to high wind gusts across the higher elevations 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 Jan 23, 10:25 AM EST, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1025 AM EST Wed Jan 23 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
A warm front will move into the region late today through
tonight before a cold front passes through from the west late
tonight into Thursday morning. Canadian high pressure will
return for late Thursday but a reinforcing cold front will pass
through Friday. High pressure will return for Saturday and
another reinforcing cold front may pass through Sunday. Low
pressure may develop off the southeast coast early next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
High pressure remains offshore and low pressure is tracking
through the Midwest. A southerly flow has allowed for milder
conditions compared to recent nights, but clouds have already
overspread the area ahead of the low.
The low will track into the Great Lakes today and the southerly
flow will continue in between the low and the high over the
Atlantic. This will allow for milder conditions compared to
recent days. However, warm and moist air will overrun the
surface colder air in place, resulting in plenty of clouds
along with increasing chances for rain and drizzle. Still feel
that the steadiest rain will hold off for most of the day, if
not all day since it will be closer to a cold front associated
with the low to our west. However, light rain and drizzle will
increase in coverage throughout the day due to the overrunning.
Max temps are forecast to top off in the 40s for most areas,
but much of the day and even early evening hours may hold in the
30s for the valleys west of Interstate 95, especially if light
rain and drizzle arrives a little earlier than currently
forecasted.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Low pressure will track through southern Canada and the warm
front associated with the low will move overhead tonight while
the cold front associated with the low approaches from the west
this evening before moving into the Potomac Highlands overnight.
The cold front will pass through the rest of the area Thursday
morning. A southerly flow will increase between these systems,
and this will continue to allow warm and moist air to advect
into the area. A strengthening low-level jet and shortwave
energy will allow for rain to become more widespread, and even
become locally heavy ahead of the frontal passage late tonight
into Thursday morning. Did issue a Flood Watch for late tonight
into Thursday across central Virginia and for most locations
near and west of the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Mountains
(excluding southern Maryland for now). The deepest moisture is
expected across these areas with rainfall amounts around 1 to
1.5 inches most likely. Most of that rain may fall in a three
hour period or so late tonight/Thursday morning. With a nearly
frozen ground there can be excess runoff as well. Therefore, the
Flood Watch has been issued. For other areas, isolated flooding
is possible late tonight into Thursday, but confidence for
Watch was not high enough at this time given less rainfall
amounts (to the northwest) or higher FFG (across southern
Maryland).
Temperatures will continue to increase tonight due to the
souther flow. Temps well into the 50s and maybe even 60s are
possible by Thursday morning near and east of Interstate 95.
Behind the cold front later Thursday morning and afternoon,
northwest winds will bring a return of seasonably chilly
conditions. Therefore, temperatures will fall later Thursday
back into the 30s and 40s (20s in the mountains). Rain may end
as a brief period of snow, but any accumulation would most
likely be confined to locations along/west of the Allegheny
Front. Some sunshine should return Thursday afternoon as well
thanks to the drier air.
High pressure will briefly build overhead Thursday night,
bringing dry and seasonably cold conditions. A reinforcing cold
front will pass through Friday. A few snow showers are possible
along the frontal passage for most areas. A heavier burst of
snow or perhaps even a snow squall is possible along the frontal
passage, even for areas east of the Highlands. Latest guidance
shows some instability and relatively strong forcing along the
cold front. High pressure will return for later Friday and
Friday night, bringing dry but cold conditions.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
High pressure will stretch along the Eastern Seaboard on
Saturday as an upper level low and deep layered troughing
churns north of the Great Lakes. A weak area of low pressure may
deliver upslope snow showers late Saturday into Sunday with
minor accumulation possible. In the wake of an Arctic frontal
passage late Friday, temperatures on Saturday will run 5 to 10
degrees below normal, with highs ranging from the upper 20s to
upper 30s across the area. Teens and 20s will be realized
Saturday night.
The aforementioned upper low will dig and deepen into the Great
Lakes on Sunday, and along with a surface cold front nearing the
Ohio Valley, another round of upslope snow looks likely late
Sunday into Sunday night. Am carrying a slight chance of
rain/snow showers along and just east of the Blue Ridge as the
flow aloft will be a stronger and there is a bit more moisture
to work with. Temperatures are poised to run at or just below
normal both Sunday and Sunday night. Low pressure dropping
southward out of Canada will near the Mississippi Valley on
Monday, with warm air advection moving overhead, and southerly
winds increasing at the surface. Right now, global models in
decent agreement at this time with this low passing just to our
west late Monday into Tuesday, with no phasing between the
northern and southern streams until the system is north and east
of the region. Obviously something that will bear watching over
the next several days. That being said, colder air will be
knocking on our door as the bulk of the precip moves through the
area, so keeping a chance of rain/snow showers Monday night and
into Tuesday. Drier and colder conditions prevail Tuesday night
behind a frontal passage.
&&
.AVIATION /15Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Low clouds have increased this morning with MVFR conditions
over most of the main terminals. IFR conditions are likely to
develop this afternoon into this evening, although confidence on
the exact timing is low as of now. Light rain and drizzle will
increase in coverage during this time as well. For tonight, a
steady rain will develop with MVFR and IFR conditions expected.
Rain may be locally heavy at times. Strong wind shear is
expected over the terminals today and into tonight.
A brief period of gusty winds in showers are possible early
Thursday morning across the eastern terminals. Northwest winds
will develop later Thursday morning behind a cold front and
cigs/vsbys will improve. A few snow showers are possible Friday,
especially during the morning and midday hours. Otherwise, VFR
conditions are expected Friday and Friday night.
VFR conditions likely for the bulk of the weekend, with the best
potential for flight restrictions at MRB late Sunday and Sunday
night in passing snow showers. Light southerly winds on Saturday
will increase Saturday night and into Sunday, veering out of the
west.
&&
.MARINE...
A southerly flow will continue through tonight ahead of an
approaching cold front. The cold front will pass through
Thursday morning and winds will shift to the northwest behind
the front. There is a Small Craft Advisory in effect through
this afternoon for the Bay and lower Tidal Potomac River as
mixing should allow for wind gusts to reach criteria as gradient
increases ahead of frontal boundary. The SCA is in effect for
all of the waters tonight and Thursday. Strong gradient should
overcome low-level stability and result in SCA gusts during
this time.
Will have to watch for a line of gusty showers that may develop
along the cold front Thursday morning. Special Marine Warnings
may be warranted.
High pressure will reside over the waters on Saturday with light
winds and sub SCA conditions expected. Winds will increase Saturday
night through Sunday night as the high shifts offshore and return
flow increases, bringing the potential for SCA conditions over
portions of the waters.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Strong low-level moisture flux beneath a stout mid-level
shortwave and strong upper divergence in the right-entrance
region of a 150+ kt jet max will all aid in lift to result in
widespread moderately heavy rain across much of the Mid-Atlantic
late tonight into Thursday. Rainfall totals around an inch,
with isolated totals up to 1.5 inches are possible during this
time. Areas across central Virginia and up the I-95 corridor may
see the highest rainfall totals as the upper jet /low-level
moisture flux strengthen over these areas through Thursday
morning. PWATs of 1.25+ inches and warm cloud layer depths near
10kft along a strongly forced frontal zone could result in an
overproductive band of moderately heavy rain along the front
Thursday morning. Given frozen ground, recent precipitation and
some snow and ice melt, small stream and urban flooding is
possible during this time. Main stem river flooding may persist
through Friday.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Tidal anomalies will continue to increase into Thursday as southerly
flow persists over the waters. The potential for minor flooding will
exist as a result, however, given a large spread in guidance and
uncertainty in the strength of surface winds, confidence is low at
this time.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...Flood Watch from late tonight through Thursday afternoon for
DCZ001.
MD...Flood Watch from late tonight through Thursday afternoon for
MDZ004>006-011-013-014-016-503>508.
VA...Flood Watch from 10 PM EST this evening through Thursday
morning for VAZ025-036-503-504-508.
Flood Watch from late tonight through Thursday afternoon for
VAZ037>040-050-051-507.
Flood Watch from late tonight through Thursday afternoon for
VAZ052>056-501-502-505-506.
WV...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM EST Thursday for ANZ530>543.
&&
SYNOPSIS...BJL
NEAR TERM...BJL
SHORT TERM...BJL
LONG TERM...BKF
AVIATION...BJL/IMR/BKF
MARINE...BJL/BKF
HYDROLOGY...DHOF
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...BKFHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 216 PM EST Wed Jan 23 2019 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-241930- 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- 216 PM EST Wed Jan 23 2019 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 Flood Watch is in effect for the Washington and Baltimore Metropolitan areas beginning at 4 am late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The Flood Watch continues until 3 pm Thursday afternoon. Elsewhere, localized flooding is possible Thursday. Main stem river flooding is possible late Thursday into Friday. A Wind Advisory is in effect from Baltimore southward Thursday morning. A Gale Warning is in effect for the waters Thursday. Storm force gusts are possible briefly along and ahead of a cold front Thursday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay significant weather reports to the National Weather Service. MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053- 055-501>506-241930- 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- 216 PM EST Wed Jan 23 2019 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 Flood Watch is in effect late tonight for portions of central Virginia and for locations along and east of the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Mountains. A Wind Advisory is in effect through tonight for the northern and central Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, western Highland County in Virginia and western Pendleton County in West Virginia. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The Flood Watch continues through midday Thursday. Elsewhere, localized flooding is possible Thursday. Main stem river flooding Thursday into Friday. A Wind Advisory is in effect mainly near and south of Interstate 70 and east of Highway 15 Thursday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay significant weather reports to the National Weather Service. DHOF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
923 AM EST WED JAN 23 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM SNOW 1 SW MILL GAP 38.31N 79.72W
01/23/2019 M0.3 INCH HIGHLAND VA CO-OP OBSERVER
24-HOUR SNOWFALL.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1901446
DHSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 1117 AM EST Wed Jan 23 2019 MDZ003-502-WVZ051-231730- Washington-Central and Eastern Allegany-Morgan- Including the cities of Hagerstown, Cumberland, and Paw Paw 1117 AM EST Wed Jan 23 2019 ...PATCHY LIGHT FREEZING RAIN THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON... Patchy light rain or sprinkles are developing over western Maryland and portions of the eastern West Virginia panhandle. Temperatures in a narrow corridor from Cumberland to Berkeley Springs to Hancock are still below freezing. As a result, patchy icy spots from light freezing rain are possible, especially given cold ground temperatures. DHOF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1127 AM EST WED JAN 23 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1115 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NW WINTERGREEN 37.92N 78.95W
01/23/2019 M58 MPH NELSON VA MESONET
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1901447
DHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1226 PM EST WED JAN 23 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1135 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NW WINTERGREEN 37.92N 78.95W
01/23/2019 M63 MPH NELSON VA MESONET
&&
CORRECTED EVENT TIME...EVENT
EVENT NUMBER LWX1901447
DHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
116 PM EST WED JAN 23 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0105 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NW WINTERGREEN 37.92N 78.95W
01/23/2019 M72 MPH NELSON VA MESONET
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1901448
DHSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 150 PM EST Wed Jan 23 2019 MDZ003-004-VAZ030-031-501-505-WVZ053-232300- Washington-Frederick MD-Warren-Clarke-Northern Fauquier- Western Loudoun-Jefferson- Including the cities of Hagerstown, Frederick, Ballenger Creek, Front Royal, Berryville, Warrenton, Purcellville, Charles Town, and Shepherdstown 150 PM EST Wed Jan 23 2019 ...GUSTY WINDS OVER THE RIDGES THIS AFTERNOON... Southerly wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible this afternoon for elevations above 1500 feet. Motorists traveling over the Blue Ridge Mountains this afternoon should exercise extra caution and be prepared for sudden increases in wind gusts when driving over the ridgetops or through mountain passes. South and southeastern facing slopes will be most susceptible to strong winds. MDZ501-502-VAZ025>027-504-WVZ050-055-501>504-506-232300- Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany-Augusta- Rockingham-Shenandoah-Eastern Highland-Hampshire-Hardy- Western Grant-Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral- Eastern Pendleton- Including the cities of Frostburg, Cumberland, Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, Harrisonburg, Strasburg, Woodstock, Mount Jackson, New Market, Monterey, Romney, Moorefield, Bayard, Mount Storm, Petersburg, Elk Garden, Antioch, Keyser, New Creek, Ridgeville, Russelldale, Headsville, Fort Ashby, Brandywine, Franklin, Oak Flat, Ruddle, and Sugar Grove 150 PM EST Wed Jan 23 2019 ...GUSTY WINDS OVER THE RIDGES THIS AFTERNOON... Southerly wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible this afternoon for elevations above 1500 feet. Motorists traveling over higher terrain this afternoon should exercise extra caution and be prepared for sudden increases in wind gusts when driving over the ridgetops or through mountain passes. South and southeastern facing slopes will be most susceptible to strong winds. DHOF
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Wind gusts of between 58 mph and 72 mph were measured at Wintergreen Resort. There were several reports of trees down along the Blue Ridge.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, January 2019
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: 802005.