A pair of fronts spawned two clusters of severe thunderstorms that produced localized considerable wind damage near Staunton, Virginia, Silver Spring, Maryland, and Washington, DC.
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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 pair of fronts spawned two clusters of severe thunderstorms that produced localized considerable wind damage near Staunton, Virginia, Silver Spring, Maryland, and Washington, DC.
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 26, 9:19 AM EST, 3 hours 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 1019 AM EDT Mon Jul 26 2021 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will slide southward through the area today, stalling out across the Carolinas through Tuesday night. Another weak front will approach to our north Wednesday before a more potent cold front comes sweeping through the region Thursday into Friday. Canadian high pressure builds back over area for the first half of the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... The front has dropped into the northern half of our forecast area with it currently located over parts f central MD and eastern WV. The front is expected to continue moving south through our region this morning. A shower/thunderstorm that formed along this boundary in WV has tried to move eastward into parts of Pendleton and Grant Counties. Based on the trends the past few hours, the storms will likely not survive long past the Allegheny front but I have added some slight chance shower/thunder pops. .Previous Discussion A cold front is analyzed across the southern half of Pennsylvania this morning as high pressure remains situated over the western Atlantic. The cold front will slide southward today across our area, bisecting the CWA across central Virginia by this afternoon. This frontal placement will act as the trigger for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon as we remain underneath the broad upper trough, with the current forecast pinning the higher POPs south of the I-66 corridor. Just south of said front will reside the more unstable airmass given high moisture content and ample surface heating. With this setup, a few strong to severe storms will be possible primarily along and south of the I-64 corridor should the front keeps its schedule highlighted by the latest guidance. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat With PWATs nearing 2 inches across this area as well, an isolated threat for flash flooding cannot be ruled out with any stronger storms. Additional showers and isolated storms will be possible just north of the front, however not expecting much vigor given surface winds backing out of the northwest as a more stable airmass advects into the area. Showers and thunderstorm activity dwindles this evening as the front pushes further south, with a dry night on tap area wide. Dewpoints will drop off some overnight, but remaining in the 60s for most. Low temperatures will fall into the 60s to low 70s by morning. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... The aforementioned cold front will hang up south of our area on Tuesday and Tuesday night, likely in the North Carolina region, as weak high pressure builds over our region. Resultant weather will be dry conditions and hot temperatures in the low to middle 90s. Dewpoints will be reserved in the 60s, so heat indices should stay in check despite the above normal warmth. Continued dry Tuesday night with lows near climatological norms. A weakening front will try and sneak down across the area on Wednesday, delivering a slight chance for a few afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms, mainly across northern and northeast Maryland and the adjacent Chesapeake Bay waters. Slightly above normal temperatures will persist Wednesday and Wednesday night. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... The longwave pattern across the country will feature a persistent upper ridge over the central U.S. with troughs to either side. This omega block configuration maintains northwesterly flow aloft over the northeastern states. Heading into the weekend, the mean ridge across the center of the country flattens while a much more amplified trough extends over New England. At the surface, a cold front tracks through the Mid-Atlantic early Friday, while a reinforcing boundary follows in its wings late in the weekend. These frontal passages maintain lower humidity levels for late July standards. On Thursday, deterministic models have come into better agreement with a fairly potent shortwave crossing through the region during the afternoon hours. Mid-level winds are seasonably strong, running around 40 to perhaps 45 knots. Moisture return is somewhat questionable being on the north side of a weak, stalled boundary over the Carolinas. Models do not quite agree on the degree of instability given marginal low- level moisture. If the thermodynamic profile improves, strong to severe thunderstorms could become more widespread given the potency of the system aloft. All of this will form ahead of an eastward propagating cold front set to exit by Friday morning. Depending on how quickly this frontal zone moves through, some residual convective threat may loom over central Virginia. After being in the low 90s for many days, a modest cool down ensues for Friday and into the weekend. Dew points drop into the 50s allowing humidity levels to plummet. High pressure builds in from the west before advancing offshore ahead of a secondary cold front. As the upper trough further amplifies over eastern North America, the next cold front begins to near the Appalachian chain by late Sunday. This would also bring the next threat for showers. && .AVIATION /14Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... A cold front will slide southward through the terminals today. Based on the latest guidance, thinking CHO serves to have the best chance at VCTS this afternoon, as the front will be near or just to the north. Can't rule out a brief shower or isolated storm at IAD/DCA, but with the front to the south, impacts would be limited. Winds will trend light at less than 10 knots and generally out of the northwest as the front pushes south. Patchy fog producing MVFR VIS possible overnight tonight near CHO, with VFR conditions expected at all other terminals with light and variable winds. Weak high pressure will build over the region Tuesday and Tuesday night with continued VFR VIS/CIGs while winds remain light and out of the west northwest. Given the threat for convection, Thursday could bring some periods of sub-VFR conditions along with gusty winds. Upon frontal passage Friday morning, winds will shift from southwesterly to northwesterly. Dry conditions across the area terminals should bring a return to VFR by Friday. && .MARINE... SCA remains in effect for the remainder of the overnight hours across our Chesapeake Bay waters south of Drum Point and the tidal Potomac waters southeast of Cobb Island. Sub SCA gusts are expected today as a cold front slides southward through the area. Winds will favor a light southwesterly trajectory this morning, turning light out of the northwest behind said front. Isolated to scattered storms across central Virginia this afternoon and early evening may yield gusty winds over the tidal Potomac and adjacent Chesapeake Bay waters, potentially requiring the need for Special Marine Warnings. The front will stall to our south tonight through Tuesday night as weak high pressure builds over the region. As a result, the gradient will remain weak and winds will stay on the light side, generally out of the west northwest during this time. Increasing southwesterly flow ahead of the cold front may bring winds to SCA levels on Thursday with post-frontal northwesterlies again increasing winds into Friday. Otherwise, gusty showers and thunderstorms are possible on Thursday afternoon/evening which may require Special Marine Warnings within the stronger cells. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... As southerly flow has significantly diminished in strength, water levels continue to fall across the Tidal Potomac and Chesapeake Bay. Only the more vulnerable Annapolis site could see a return to Action this morning. Future high tides will see a further lowering as seen in the Stevens Ensembles. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...BKF NEAR TERM...BKF/JMG SHORT TERM...BKF LONG TERM...BRO AVIATION...BKF/BRO/JMG MARINE...BKF/BRO TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 146 PM EDT Mon Jul 26 2021 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508- VAZ052>057-271000- 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- 146 PM EDT Mon Jul 26 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 Scattered thunderstorms will be capable of producing locally gusty winds over the waters late this afternoon through this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Isolated severe storms are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening, with damaging wind being the primary threat. There is a slight threat for severe thunderstorms on Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MDZ003>006-503-505-507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501-502-505>508- WVZ050>053-055-271000- 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- 146 PM EDT Mon Jul 26 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 Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8 PM for Nelson and Albemarle Counties. The primary threat is for damaging wind gusts. Elsewhere, isolated severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening the rest of central Virginia and the central Shenandoah Valley. The primary hazard will be damaging winds. Additionally, isolated instances of flash flooding are also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a slight threat for severe thunderstorms on Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening. MDZ001-501-502-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-271000- Garrett-Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany- Western Highland-Eastern Highland-Western Grant-Eastern Grant- Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-Western Pendleton- Eastern Pendleton- 146 PM EDT Mon Jul 26 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 No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a slight threat for severe thunderstorms on Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1131 AM EDT MON JUL 26 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1209 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 2 SSE PERRYVILLE 39.55N 76.06W
07/26/2021 M44 MPH CECIL MD MESONET
A WIND GUST OF 38 KNOTS WAS REPORTED AT THE HATEM
BRIDGE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX2104957
BJLThe Sterling radar (KLWX), 166 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:51 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees blew down along US-250 Churchville Avenue between Churchville and Staunton.
Numerous trees and power lines blew down in the City of Staunton. A tree blew down onto a house in the 1500 block of Lyle Avenue.
There were multiple reports of quarter size hail across the City of Staunton.
Ping pong ball size hail was reported near Afton.
Tree damage was reported near Arrington, including a tree that blew down in the 3000 block of VA-56 Tye Brook Highway.
A single tree was reported down on VA-2401 Riverside Parkway near Deerfield Avenue.
Tree damage was reported near Fairfax Station, including a tree that blew down near the intersection of VA-612 Colchester Road and Clifton Spring Drive.
Tree damage was reported near Annandale, including a tree that blew down on Frost Way near Shelley Lane.
A tree blew down in the 7000 block of VA-614 South Middle Road. A tree blew down on VA-767 Quicksburg Road.
Power lines blew down near the intersection of Fenwick Drive and Huntington Avenue. A tree blew down on Belle Haven Road near Radcliff Road.
Two trees blew down on Polins Court near Harrison Lane. A tree blew down on Stonebridge Court. A tree blew down on Harrison Lane near Huntley Meadows Lane. Power lines blew down near the intersection of Pole Road and Frye Road.
Tree damage was reported in Fredericksburg, including a tree that blew down in the 3300 block of Fair Hill Avenue.
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, July 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: 962860, 962861, 962862, 962863, 962864, 962865, 962867, 962868, 962866, 962869, 962870, 962871.