A nearly stationary boundary set up near the Potomac River weak low pressure developed along the boundary. There was plenty of moisture in place from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, and this combined with instability to produce very heavy rainfall rates in convection that developed.
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 nearly stationary boundary set up near the Potomac River weak low pressure developed along the boundary. There was plenty of moisture in place from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, and this combined with instability to produce very heavy rainfall rates in convection that developed. Convection was maximized around the boundary across near the Potomac River, and this led to several instances of flooding.
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 Jul 7, 8:03 PM EST, 5 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
903 PM EDT Sun Jul 7 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
A weak cold front will cross the region tonight before settling
to our south Monday. High pressure will then build north of the
area into the middle of the week. Another front will approach by
week's end.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 7 AM MONDAY MORNING/...
Initial surface boundary had moved south of the region this
afternoon and was responsible for much of the widespread
convection near Richmond. Main frontal boundary remains near the
Mason Dixon line this evening and weak 850mb low will traverse
it late this evening and overnight. Thus expecting showers and
isolated thunderstorms to continue across the region overnight,
most widespread near the 850mb low and boundary. Any
showers/thunderstorms will be capable of producing heavy rain
and isolated flooding. Will likely be able to drop Flash Flood
Watch early across portions of central Virginia as convection
should wane there heading into tonight. The greatest focus will
likely turn to the eastern panhandle of WV, north-central MD,
and perhaps northern VA where low is progged to track and
inflection point will exist between easterly flow noted across
northeast MD, and north- northwest flow behind frontal boundary
and low.
Otherwise, another muggy night is expected along with some
patchy fog. Lows will range from the mid 60s to low 70s.
&&
.SHORT TERM /7 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
For Monday, departing upper level disturbance should allow meso
low to head out/weaken, allowing any heavy rain to end early,
but showers/drizzle may linger for a while. Dry air finally
advances enough to end precip and start breaking up clouds later
in the day from northeast to southwest. Highs near 80.
Canadian high pressure dominates Monday night through Tuesday
night. This will provide a relatively cooler and less humid
period with less cloud cover as we head into the middle of the
week. Highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. Could be patch fog
in the early morning hours, especially Tuesday morning, but
that's pretty much the only fly in the ointment.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
We remain dry on Wednesday, as high pressure slides overhead,
and eventually offshore by Wednesday night into Thursday
morning. This thanks to an approaching cold front from the west,
associated with a surface low tracking well to our north across
the Great Lakes into the northeast. Highs on Wednesday will be
in the mid to upper 80s once again.
The aforementioned cold front will push through the region on
Thursday. As a result, scattered showers and thunderstorms will
be possible in the afternoon/evening. Thursday will be slightly
warmer, and noticeably more humid. Given the warm and humid air
mass and at least modest shear, owing to the close proximity of
the mid-upper trough, some storms could produce gusty winds and
maybe even some hail. A little too far out to say for sure, but
can't rule it out.
High pressure builds in on Friday behind the front, with high
temperatures expected to be near, to slightly below, average.
Meanwhile, the cold front will stall just to our south,
potentially bringing showers and thunderstorms to southern
portions of the forecast area. It is always tough to nail down
exactly where the front will stall, especially several days out,
so this will have to be watched in the coming days.
For the weekend, a great deal of uncertainty exists amongst
model guidance at this point. There is the potential for
tropical cyclone development in the Gulf of Mexico, which could
bring rain to the area during the weekend. However, there are
models that also keep us completely dry for the weekend, and
bring the rain from this system in early next week. So, really,
it is just far too early to speculate. For now, will bring in
some POPs for Saturday, but keep them fairly low for now.
&&
.AVIATION /01Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Main concern this evening will be showers and isolated
thunderstorms with localized reductions at times. Overnight,
cold front pushing south and undercutting warm moist air will
likely lead to IFR cigs, which may linger much of Monday before
breaking up late. Conditions will then become VFR by Monday
night. Patchy fog possibly a concern late Monday night/early
Tuesday, but otherwise VFR for Tuesday.
VFR conditions expected Wednesday, as high pressure keeps
things dry. Not expecting any wind issues either, with light
winds expected both days.
A cold front on Thursday will bring showers and storms to the
region, which may lead to flight restrictions. However, am
expecting conditions to be primarily VFR outside of
thunderstorms.
&&
.MARINE...
Thunderstorm wind gusts are the main concern this evening into
the overnight, but storms will likely be less gusty than
yesterday since less instability is present to fuel them.
Northerly flow behind slow moving cold front and ahead of
building high pressure likely leads to SCA gusts on much of the
waters Monday into Monday evening, so SCA has been raised. Winds
relax Tuesday as gradient relaxes while high builds in.
Winds remain below SCA criteria for at least Wednesday and
Thursday, as high pressure builds over the region on Wednesday,
before sliding offshore by Thursday. Winds on Thursday, while
slightly stronger out of the SW, should remain below SCA
criteria. However, could see some stronger gusts in any
thunderstorms over the waters.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
PW's being over 2 inches combined with potential for slow moving
thunderstorms through late tonight has prompted a flash flood
watch for most of the region. Main focus overnight is likely to
take place across the eastern panhandle of WV, north central
MD, and perhaps northern VA.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...Flash Flood Watch until 6 AM EDT Monday for DCZ001.
MD...Flash Flood Watch until 6 AM EDT Monday for MDZ003>006-011-013-
014-016-501>506.
VA...Flash Flood Watch until 6 AM EDT Monday for VAZ025>031-036>040-
050>057-501>508.
WV...Flash Flood Watch until 6 AM EDT Monday for WVZ050>053-055-
501>506.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to 6 PM EDT Monday for ANZ532-
533-540-541.
Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM Monday to midnight EDT Monday
night for ANZ534-537-542-543.
Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to 2 PM EDT Monday for ANZ530-
531-538-539.
&&
SYNOPSIS...RCM
NEAR TERM...MM/RCM
SHORT TERM...RCM
LONG TERM...CJL
AVIATION...MM/RCM/CJL
MARINE...MM/RCM/CJL
HYDROLOGY...RCM/MMHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 1000 PM EDT Sun Jul 7 2019 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-081000- 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- 1000 PM EDT Sun Jul 7 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...Tonight A Flash Flood Watch is in effect through late tonight for the Washington and Baltimore Metropolitan areas. Scattered incidents of flooding are possible due to slow moving showers and thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to report any severe weather or flooding to the National Weather Service via normal procedures. MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053- 055-501>506-081000- 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- 1000 PM EDT Sun Jul 7 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...Tonight A Flash Flood Watch is in effect through late tonight for portions of northern Virginia, eastern West Virginia, and central and western Maryland. Scattered incidents of flooding are possible due to slow moving showers and thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to report any flooding to the National Weather Service via normal procedures.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
142 AM EDT MON JUL 08 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0101 AM FLOOD 2 NNE BERKELEY 39.53N 77.92W
07/08/2019 BERKELEY WV 911 CALL CENTER
FLOODING REPORTED ON THE 4500 BLOCK OF WILLIAMSPORT
PIKE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1905068
JMGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
144 AM EDT MON JUL 08 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 AM FLOOD 2 SSE HEDGESVILLE 39.53N 77.98W
07/08/2019 BERKELEY WV 911 CALL CENTER
FLOODING REPORTED ON THE 3000 BLOCK OF HEDGESVILLE
ROAD.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1905069
JMGThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Police reported to the 911 Center that multiple roads in the Charles Town area had 8 to 10 inches of water on them.
Police reported to the 911 Center that 8 to 10 inches of water was covering multiple roads.
Police reported to the 911 Center that multiple roads had 8 to 10 inches of water covering them.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, July 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: 842875, 842876, 842877.