Maryland, 2023

Excessive Heat in Maryland, July 28, 2023

July 28, 2023 · NWS LWX · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

The combination of a strong upper-level high pressure over the central United States and moist southwest winds resulted in hot and humid conditions across the Mid-Atlantic that produced excessive heat conditions.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

The combination of a strong upper-level high pressure over the central United States and moist southwest winds resulted in hot and humid conditions across the Mid-Atlantic that produced excessive heat conditions.

What forecasters said that day

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 28, 9:02 AM EST, 2 hours 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 9:02 AM EST, 2 hours 58 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 28, 7:39 AM EST, 4 hours 21 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
839 AM EDT Fri Jul 28 2023

ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508-
VAZ053>057-527-291000-
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-Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-
Stafford-Spotsylvania-King George-
Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-
839 AM EDT Fri Jul 28 2023

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...Today and Tonight

Isolated severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds are
possible this afternoon.

An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect from 11 AM until 8 PM
today.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible on
Saturday, especially during the afternoon and evening hours.

An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for Baltimore and
Washington metropolitan areas from Noon to 8 PM Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed Friday or Saturday afternoons.

MDZ003>006-503-505-507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501-502-505>508-
526-WVZ050>053-055-291000-
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-Northwest Prince William-Hampshire-
Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-
839 AM EDT Fri Jul 28 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern West
Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and central and western
Maryland.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Isolated severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds are
possible this afternoon.

A Heat Advisory is in effect from 11 AM until 8 PM today, with the
exception of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible on
Saturday, especially during the afternoon and evening hours.

A Heat Advisory is in effect for much of the area from Noon to
8 PM Saturday, with the exception of Augusta and Rockingham
Counties and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed Friday and Saturday afternoons.

MDZ001-501-502-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-291000-
Garrett-Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany-
Western Highland-Eastern Highland-Western Grant-Eastern Grant-
Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-Western Pendleton-
Eastern Pendleton-
839 AM EDT Fri Jul 28 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Allegheny Front
counties in western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and Highland
County Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Isolated severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds are
possible this afternoon.

A Heat Advisory is in effect for eastern Allegany, eastern
Mineral, and eastern Grant Counties from 11 AM until 8 PM today.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

A Heat Advisory is in effect from Noon to 8 PM Saturday for the
lower elevations.

Isolated to scattered severe storms are possible
Saturday, especially during the afternoon and evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed Saturday afternoon.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Excessive Heat, St. Mary'S

When
July 28, 12:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
St. Mary'S forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
38.216, -76.529 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The AWOS at Patuxent River NAS, KNHK, measured heat indices as high as 111F. Numerous other mesonets across St. Mary's County measured peak heat indices in excess of 110F.

Excessive Heat, Central and Southeast Howard

When
July 28, 12:00 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where
Central and Southeast Howard forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.251, -76.931 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A mesonet station in Columbia, Maryland, DW1546, measured heat indices as high as 113F. Several other mesonets across Central and Southeast Howard County measured peak heat indices in excess of 110F.

Excessive Heat, Prince Georges

When
July 28, 12:30 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Prince Georges forecast zone
Reported by
RAWS
Coordinates
38.830, -76.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The RAWS station at Cedarville State Forest, CVLM2, measured heat indices as high as 114F. Numerous other mesonets across Prince George's County measured heat indices in excess of 110F.

Excessive Heat, Central and Southeast Montgomery

When
July 28, 12:30 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Central and Southeast Montgomery forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.136, -77.204 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Maryland Department of Transportation mesonet, MD-001, located at the intersection of Interstate 270 and Interstate 370, measured heat indices as high as 111F. Several other mesonets across Central and Southeastern Montgomery County measured peak heat indices in excess of 110F.

Excessive Heat, Cecil

When
July 28, 1:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Cecil forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.562, -75.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several mesonset stations across Cecil County measured heat indices above 110F for several hours.

Excessive Heat, Southern Baltimore

When
July 28, 1:00 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Southern Baltimore forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
39.367, -76.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The ASOS at Baltimore Inner Harbor, KDMH, measured peak heat indices as high as 112F. Several other mesonets across southern Baltimore County measured heat indices in excess of 110F.

Excessive Heat, Anne Arundel

When
July 28, 1:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Anne Arundel forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
38.994, -76.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The ASOS at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, KBWI, measured heat indices as high as 113F. Numerous other mesonets across Anne Arundel County measured heat indices in excess of 110F.

Excessive Heat, Charles

When
July 28, 1:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Charles forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.474, -77.013 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Maryland Department of Transportation mesonet, MD-105, located at the intersection of Maryland Route 344 and Maryland Route 244 measured heat indices as high as 114F. Numerous other mesonets across Charles County measured peak heat indices in excess of 110F.

Excessive Heat, Southeast Harford

When
July 28, 1:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Harford forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.536, -76.299 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The RAWS station at Susquehanna State Park, SSQME, measured heat indices as high as 110F. Several other mesonets across Southeast Harford County measured peak heat indices at or in excess of 110F.

Excessive Heat, Washington

When
July 28, 1:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
39.604, -77.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The ASOS at Hagerstown Regional Airport, KHGR, measured heat indices as high as 106F. Numerous other mesonets across Washington County measured heat indices in excess of 105F.

Excessive Heat, Calvert

When
July 28, 1:30 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Calvert forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.535, -76.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Maryland Department of Transportation mesonet, MD-147, located at the intersection of Maryland Route 4 and Thomas Johnson Bridge, measured heat indices as high as 113F. Several other mesonets across Calvert County measured peak heat indices in excess of 110F.

What these are

Excessive Heat
Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maryland in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, July 2023

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1121050, 1121053, 1121047, 1121052, 1121045, 1121046, 1121048, 1121049, 1121054, 1121055, 1121051.