A strong cold front spawned a shallow line of convection that produced severe wind gusts.
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 strong cold front spawned a shallow line of convection that produced severe wind gusts.
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 Apr 30, 1:11 PM EST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
211 PM EDT Fri Apr 30 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure will build in from the Great Lakes over the
weekend, then shift offshore next week as a frontal system
approaches from the Midwest.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
***DAMAGING WIND WILL PERSIST THROUGH THIS EVENING***
A rather noteworthy late season high wind event is ongoing
across the Middle Atlantic. People should treat this like a
severe thunderstorm. Remain in a sturdy building away from
windows and limit travel. Avoid wooded areas.
This event is due to strengthening low pressure off the New
England coast battling high pressure building in from the
Midwest. The resultant pressure gradient will strengthen this
evening, and so will the wind field aloft as the mid level
trough axis forcing the low pivots overhead. Widespread W/NW
wind gusts of 45 to 60 mph are being observed and should
persist into the evening. Sustained wind may decrease somewhat
with the loss of daytime heating, but higher gusts are possible
at least sporadically through the evening as the wind field
aloft strengthens and cold advection/pressure rises continue. A
few gusts near 70 mph can't be ruled out mainly over the higher
elevations of northern Maryland this evening.
Scattered shower activity associated with the mid level trough
axis should peak this evening with thunder and small hail
possible given cold mid levels.
Lows around freezing are expected over the ridges of the
Alleghenies where a Freeze Warning is in effect tonight. Lows in
the 40s with wind chills in the 20s are expected elsewhere.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
High pressure of Canadian origin will build in from the Great
Lakes and Midwest this weekend offering dry and seasonable
conditions. Saturday will be blustery to start, but the wind
should slacken off significantly by late afternoon.
Clouds may begin to increase late in the weekend as high
pressure moves offshore. The wind will turn southwesterly
leading to a warming trend heading into early next week.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
For the start of the work week, we'll see precip chances increase
throughout the day on Monday as a warm front moves north into the
area as a closed low that originated down in Texas continues to
push towards the northeast. As the low tracks to our north, a
fairly non-progressive associated cold front will lag behind it,
bringing more increased chances for precip and some isolated
storms Monday through Wednesday with multiple disturbances
passing through.
As this front slowly moves through, we'll see an increased risk
for severe thunderstorms and flooding. ECMWF ensemble PWAT
probabilities for >=1.5" is 70% or higher east of the Blue Ridge
Mountains for this time period. GEFS members suggest 1500+ J/kg
CAPE for Tuesday afternoon with shear 30 to 35 knots. Will keep
chance thunder in for this time period and increase if need be
once closer to the period.
After Wednesday evening, we'll start to see a brief area of
high pressure for Thursday before a deep area of low pressure
affects the area by Friday morning bringing the next chance for
impactful weather as well a decrease in temperatures following
the frontal passage.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
A high wind event is ongoing across the region. W/NW gusts to
around 50 kt are expected until about 03z, slightly lower around
40 kt near KCHO. Sustained wind may diminish slightly this
evening with the loss of daytime heating, but gusts may increase
at least sporadically as the wind field aloft strengthens.
The wind will gradually diminish late tonight into Saturday
morning before dropping significantly by late Saturday afternoon
as high pressure builds overhead. This high pressure should
bring VFR conditions and a lighter SW wind Sunday.
VFR conditions expected at least Monday before some instances of sub-
VFR conditions become possible with impending showers and storms as
low pressure tracks to the north. An associated cold frontal
passage Tuesday/Wednesday will lead to increased instances of
sub-VFR conditions with showers and storms possible, some of
which may be severe.
&&
.MARINE...
***DANGEROUS HIGH WIND EVENT THROUGH THIS EVENING***
Widespread W/NW gusts of 40 to 50 kt are forecast to persist
through this evening. The wind should diminish Saturday
especially by late afternoon, though gale conditions may persist
until just after daybreak Saturday, with SCA conditions likely
persisting until nightfall. High pressure will build overhead
Saturday night into Sunday with a lighter wind becoming SW.
SCA conditions possible Monday and Tuesday with multiple rounds of
associated disturbances. SMWs possible Tuesday afternoon and
evening.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Strong NW/offshore flow will cause water levels to decline through
Saturday morning, and will likely result in blowout tides.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...High Wind Warning until 2 AM EDT Saturday for DCZ001.
MD...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM EDT Saturday for
MDZ001.
Wind Advisory until 1 AM EDT Saturday for MDZ001.
High Wind Warning until 2 AM EDT Saturday for MDZ003>006-008-
011-013-014-503>508.
Wind Advisory until 2 AM EDT Saturday for MDZ016>018.
High Wind Warning until 1 AM EDT Saturday for MDZ501-502.
VA...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM EDT Saturday for
VAZ503.
Wind Advisory until 1 AM EDT Saturday for VAZ025>031-503.
High Wind Warning until 2 AM EDT Saturday for VAZ053-054-
505>508.
Wind Advisory until 2 AM EDT Saturday for VAZ036>040-051-052-
055-057-501-502.
High Wind Warning until 1 AM EDT Saturday for VAZ504.
Red Flag Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for VAZ050-056.
WV...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM EDT Saturday for
WVZ501-505.
Wind Advisory until 1 AM EDT Saturday for WVZ050-055-501-505.
High Wind Warning until 2 AM EDT Saturday for WVZ051>053.
High Wind Warning until 1 AM EDT Saturday for WVZ502>504-506.
MARINE...Storm Warning until 6 AM EDT Saturday for ANZ530>532-535-
538>540.
Gale Warning until 6 AM EDT Saturday for ANZ533-534-536-537-
541>543.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DHOF
NEAR TERM...DHOF
SHORT TERM...DHOF
LONG TERM...ADM
AVIATION...DHOF/ADM
MARINE...BRO/DHOF/ADM
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...DHOFHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 242 PM EDT Fri Apr 30 2021 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508- VAZ052>057-011845- 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-Cecil-Southern Baltimore- Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert- Central and Southeast Montgomery-Central and Southeast Howard- Southeast Harford-Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax- Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Stafford-Spotsylvania- King George- 242 PM EDT Fri Apr 30 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A High Wind Warning is in effect for the Baltimore MD and Washington D.C. Metropolitan areas through this evening. A Wind Advisory is in effect for southern Maryland and the Fredericksburg area in Virginia. A Storm Warning is in effect for the Maryland Chesapeake Bay north of North Beach MD and the upper tidal Potomac River through tonight. A Gale Warning is in effect for the remainder of the waters during this time. There is an enhanced threat for the spread of fires due to gusty winds and low relative humidity this afternoon, mainly in the Fredericksburg area of Virginia. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please send any wind reports to the National Weather Service. MDZ003>006-503-505-507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501-502-505>508- WVZ050>053-055-011845- Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore- Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard-Northwest Harford-Augusta- Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke-Nelson- Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper- Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun- Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge- Central Virginia Blue Ridge-Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson- Hardy- 242 PM EDT Fri Apr 30 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern West Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and central and western Maryland. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A High Wind Warning is in effect for portions of northern and central Maryland as well as portions of the eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and the DC metro area in northern Virginia late this morning through this evening. A Wind Advisory is in effect for much of the rest of the area through this evening. There is an enhanced threat for the spread of fires due to gusty winds and low relative humidity this afternoon, mainly across portions of the north-central Virginia piedmont. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please send any wind reports to the National Weather Service. MDZ001-501-502-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-011845- Garrett-Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany- Western Highland-Eastern Highland-Western Grant-Eastern Grant- Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-Western Pendleton- Eastern Pendleton- 242 PM EDT Fri Apr 30 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Allegheny Front counties in western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and Highland County Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A High Wind Warning is in effect in the lee of the Allegheny Front through this evening, with a Wind Advisory elsewhere. A Freeze Warning is in effect starting at midnight for the higher elevations of the Alleghenies. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday The Freeze Warning continues through 9 AM Saturday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please send any wind reports to the National Weather Service. DHOF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
356 PM EDT FRI APR 30 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0232 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 WNW MIDDLEBURG 39.60N 77.24W
04/30/2021 CARROLL MD DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
WIRES DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF MD-77 AND MD-194.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX2103884
CPBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
401 PM EDT FRI APR 30 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0232 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 ENE RICHARDSMERE 39.69N 76.10W
04/30/2021 CECIL MD DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
POLE AND WIRES BLEW DOWN ON MD-1 NEAR HORSESHOE DRIVE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX2103885
CPBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
404 PM EDT FRI APR 30 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0353 PM NON-TSTM WND GST MARTINSBURG ARPT 39.40N 77.98W
04/30/2021 M59 MPH BERKELEY WV ASOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX2103886
CPBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
418 PM EDT FRI APR 30 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW SABILLASVILLE 39.65N 77.47W
04/30/2021 M59 MPH FREDERICK MD AWOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX2103887
CPBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
423 PM EDT FRI APR 30 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 N THURMONT 39.67N 77.40W
04/30/2021 FREDERICK MD NWS EMPLOYEE
TREE BLEW DOWN ON FENCE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX2103889
CPBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
430 PM EDT FRI APR 30 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0356 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 SSE FORESTVILLE 38.84N 76.87W
04/30/2021 PRINCE GEORGES MD DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
TREE BLEW DOWN ON DC-295 SOUTHBOUND BEFORE PENNSYLVANIA
AVE SE, RIGHT SIDE BLOCKED.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX2103890
CPBThe Sterling radar (KLWX), 6 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:38 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust of 52 knots (60 MPH) was measured by the ASOS at Washington Dulles International Airport (KIAD).
Several trees were blown down near Difficult Run in Oakton.
Two trees blew down on wires bringing down a telephone pole on Executive Avenue. A tree blew down on Telegraph Road near VA-644 Franconia Road blocking all lanes. Numerous other trees and wires were blown down in the area.
A tree blew down in the 3900 block of Pickett Road. Another tree blew down damaging three cars nearby.
Multiple trees and wires blew down in Arlington, including one that blocked the northbound lanes of VA-120 Glebe Road between Pershing Drive and US-50 Arlington Boulevard, and one that fell onto an apartment building on VA-120 Glebe Road.
A wind gust of 54 knots (62 MPH) was measured by the ASOS at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
A wind gust of 50 knots (58 MPH) was measured by the ASOS at Fort Belvoir.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, April 2021
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: 947696, 947698, 947700, 947701, 947702, 947703, 947704.