A severe weather outbreak occurred during the mid to late afternoon hours of Thursday, June 19th, 2025, as a strong cold front supported by a seasonably strong upper-level jet intersected a hot, humid, and unstable airmass. Severe weather was exclusively in the form of damaging wind gusts, many of which were considerable (near hurricane-force) in nature in the Washington DC metro area.
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 severe weather outbreak occurred during the mid to late afternoon hours of Thursday, June 19th, 2025, as a strong cold front supported by a seasonably strong upper-level jet intersected a hot, humid, and unstable airmass. Severe weather was exclusively in the form of damaging wind gusts, many of which were considerable (near hurricane-force) in nature in the Washington DC metro area.
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 Jun 19, 8:41 AM EST, 4 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
941 AM EDT Thu Jun 19 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
Heat and humidity continue today ahead of a potent cold front that
looks to cross the region. The front will bring a widespread risk of
severe weather to the area later this afternoon and evening with
damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall as the primary
concerns. Drier and less humid Friday into Saturday as high pressure
builds into the region. A prolonged period of excessive heat is
expected Sunday into the middle part of next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of mid morning, satellite and observations revealed a clear
sky east of the Appalachians. Steady heating is taking place,
eroding CINH. Given abundant low-level moisture in place,
moderate to strong instability will build quickly by midday
despite modest mid-level lapse rates (though the 12Z KIAD RAOB
did reveal an area of steeper lapse rates in the 850-700 hPa
layer). Wind observations indicate gusts of 30 to 40 mph over
the higher terrain, indicative of an enhanced wind field.
Shaping up to be an active afternoon and evening ahead as a potent
cold front and upper-level trough swing across the region. The
Storm Prediction Center has maintained areas east of US-15 in
an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 out of 5) for severe weather today.
Locations further west remain in a Slight Risk (Level 2 out 5).
Regardless of the severe risk zones, all hazards will be on the
table with t-storms today.
SEVERE THREAT: Storms look to initiate over the mountains
between 16-19z/12-3pm ahead of the incoming front. Areas
further east will likely see storms develop between 2-4pm/18-20z
with a prefrontal shortwave trough pushing through. Convection
overall will be scattered mainly along and west of I-81 with
conglomeration of supercells and organized line
segments/clusters working east toward the Baltimore/DC metro
areas between 19-23z/3-7pm. Storms will fuel off of high
temperatures in the upper 80s and low to mid 90s with dewpoint
factors in the upper 60s and low 70s. Heat indices will climb
toward 100 degrees in the metros/east of the Blue Ridge as a
result of the increased humidity.
SBCAPE values look to surge into the 1500-3000 J/kg during the
peak heating period with steepening low-level lapse rates (7+
C/KM). 0-6 km bulk effective shear values will run between 40-50
kts with 0-1 km SRH values around 100 m2/s2. This will amplify
the damaging wind threat as well as the potential for an
isolated tornado or two across the region, though low-level flow
may be somewhat veered to W/SW. Updraft helicity tracks from the
HREF illustrate the potential tornado/rotating updraft threat
especially east of I-95 and down across southern MD/the northern
neck of VA where slight better environmental spin resides (with
a potential bay breeze/outflow interaction).
FLASH FLOOD THREAT: Outside of the severe threat, instances of flash
flooding will remain an issue mainly in the metros/over the terrain.
This is largely due in part to some hypersensitivity given the
recent rainfall yesterday and really over the last week. FFG
guidance for much of the area in the 1-, 3-, and 6-hr time
windows remains less than 1" with PWATS ahead of the front
approaching 2". Rain rates of 1-2"+/hr are possible with storms
as they pass through. The good news is that storms will be
progressive given the amplified shear across the region.
Shower and thunderstorm activity will quickly race eastward
this evening between 00-03z/8-11pm. Winds will remain elevated
out of the west and northwest with gusts running between 15 to
25 mph. Winds will decrease late tonight along with humidity
under west to northwest flow. Some fog may be possible in the
river valleys although wind may be a limiting factor. Lows
tonight will fall back into the upper 50s and low 60s north and
west of the urban centers. Low to mid 60s are expected for the
Baltimore/DC city centers and locations near the bay.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
The humidity finally lowers along with a brief reprieve in the
excessive heat as we round out the workweek. Strong upper-level
ridging and surface high pressure will build over the eastern
CONUS through the start of the weekend. The surface high and
upper-level ridge will continue to strengthen each day bringing
warming temperatures and eventually more humidity. For Friday,
expect highs back in the mid 80s with dewpoints in the 50s and
low 60s. Overnight lows Friday night will fall into the upper
50s and low 60s west of the Blue Ridge with mid to upper 60s in
the metro areas. A spotty shower or t-storm cannot be ruled out
in northwest flow late Friday afternoon and evening as a weak
piece of trailing shortwave energy slides north and east of the
area. Highest confidence for this to occur would be along the
PA/MD line and west of the Catoctins. For now, hedged PoPs
to less than 15 percent given ample dry air advection settling
in with building surface high.
Low humidity continues Saturday although temperatures push back into
the upper 80s and low 90s under light southerly flow. Lows Saturday
night will drop back into the mid to upper 60s and low 70s. Humidity
will gradually increase during this time as broad 1024-1028 mb high
pressure strengthen off the Carolina coast.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
The longwave pattern across the CONUS will remain relatively
stagnant through the long term period, with deep upper troughing
centered over the Western US, and a strong upper ridge present
across the Eastern US. The center of a corresponding mid-upper level
anticyclone will remain centered overhead throughout the period. 500
hPa heights are modeled to reach around 596-598 dam during this
period. As a result, an extended stretch of heat and humidity is
expected late this weekend through the middle of next week.
Model guidance is in good agreement that 850 hPa temps will soar to
above 20C, which will lead to daytime highs well into the 90s, and
potentially even nearing 100. Dewpoints will remain in the low 70s,
which will keep overnight lows in the 70s. Heat indices will climb
to in excess of 100 each day, and could even reach 105-110 some
days. While dewpoints will be high at the surface, sinking motion
near the center of the mid-upper level anticyclone will lead to dry
conditions in the mid-upper levels, and quiet weather at the
surface, with ample sunshine during the daylight hours. Those who
are sensitive to the heat are encouraged to take preparations in
advance for what will likely be an extended heatwave locally.
&&
.AVIATION /13Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
VFR conditions continue to prevail amongst the terminals this
morning with a few high level clouds.
Expect temporary drops to sub-VFR this afternoon and evening as a
potent cold front cross the region. The front will bring numerous
showers and thunderstorms to the terminals especially within the BWI-
IAD-DCA corridor. Storms fire prior to 18z/2pm west of KMRB and
KCHO before working east toward the corridor between
19z-23z/3-7pm. Maintained TEMPOs in for this time window at the
aforementioned terminals above, though there may be more than
just one round. Expect variable wind gusts in and around
thunderstorms with gusts in excess of 30-40 kts. Convection will
clear the corridor between 00-03z/8-11pm tonight with
improvements back to VFR. Light southwest winds this morning
will increase this afternoon and evening with gusts between
20-25 kts.
VFR conditions are expected Friday as high pressure builds back into
the region. Winds will remain out of the west and northwest at 5-10
kts. Winds switch to the south Saturday as high pressure sinks south
and east of the area.
VFR conditions and light winds are expected on both Sunday and
Monday.
&&
.MARINE...
A strong cold frontal boundary will cross the waters today bringing
numerous showers and thunderstorms. SMWs are possible given
thermodynamic and kinematic environment this afternoon and evening
in any thunderstorm. SCA conditions are also expected this afternoon
and into Friday with the cold frontal passage. Southwest winds today
will switch to the northwest this afternoon and evening with gusts
up to 25 kts.
Sub-SCA level winds return Friday afternoon with west to northwest
winds are expected. Winds will become southerly Saturday afternoon
at generally 10 knots or less.
Light and variable winds are expected over the waters on both Sunday
and Monday. No marine hazards outside of heat are expected for the
middle of next week.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...Small Craft Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 6 AM EDT
Friday for MDZ008.
VA...None.
WV...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 6 AM EDT
Friday for ANZ530>534-537>541-543.
Small Craft Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM EDT this
evening for ANZ535-536-542.
&&
SYNOPSIS...KRR
NEAR TERM...DHOF/EST
SHORT TERM...EST
LONG TERM...KJP
AVIATION...DHOF/KJP/EST
MARINE...DHOF/KJP/ESTHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 147 PM EDT Thu Jun 19 2025 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508- VAZ053>057-527-201800- 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- 147 PM EDT Thu Jun 19 2025 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 Flood Watch for flash flooding is in effect for the Baltimore MD and Washington DC metro areas from 3 to 9 PM. Scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts are possible this afternoon and evening. There is the potential for considerable storm damage from 70 mph gusts. Large hail and an isolated tornado or two are also possible. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday An extended period of excessively hot and humid conditions is expected Sunday through at least the middle of next week. Daily heat indices in the afternoon and evening of 100 to 110 are expected, and up to 115 degrees is possible. .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- 526-WVZ050>053-055-201800- 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- 147 PM EDT Thu Jun 19 2025 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 Scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts are possible this afternoon and evening. There is the potential for considerable storm damage from 70 mph gusts. Large hail and an isolated tornado or two are also possible. An isolated instance of flooding is possible as well. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 PM near and east of Interstate 81. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday An extended period of excessively hot and humid conditions is expected Sunday through at least the middle of next week. Daily heat indices in the afternoon and evening of 100 to 110 are expected, and up to 115 degrees is possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MDZ501-502-509-510-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-201800- Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany- Western Garrett-Eastern Garrett-Western Highland-Eastern Highland- Western Grant-Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral- Western Pendleton-Eastern Pendleton- 147 PM EDT Thu Jun 19 2025 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 Scattered severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts are possible this afternoon and evening. An isolated instance of flooding is possible as well. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday An extended period of excessively hot and humid conditions is expected Sunday through at least the middle of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. DHOF
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:02 UTC.
69 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree blew down onto wires in the 14100 block of MD-68 Clear Spring Road.
Trees blew down on US-340 at Keep Tryst Road.
Trees blew down on Petersville Road at Burkittsville Road.
A couple of trees blew down between Myersville and Middletown.
Trees blew down on US-40 Alternate/Old National Pike at South Clifton Road.
There were multiple reports of trees blown down in the Jefferson area of Frederick County.
There were reports of multiple trees blown down in Frederick.
There were reports of multiple trees blown down in New Market.
A couple of trees blew down in Adamstown.
Numerous trees blew down along MD-26 Liberty Road between Franklinville Road and Woodbine Road.
Multiple large tree limbs snapped along Watersville Road.
Large trees blew down along VA-407 Marston Road.
Trees blew down on MD-91 Emory Road at Springhurst Court.
Trees blew down on MD-25 Falls Road near Benson Mill Road.
Trees blew down on MD-25 Falls Road at MD-88 Black Rock Road.
Trees blew down along MD-25 Falls Road near Knox Avenue and Shawan Road.
A few large trees blew down into the roadway near the intersection of MD-26 Liberty Road and Klee Mill Road South/West Old Liberty Road.
Trees blew down on MD-45 York Road at Gifford Lane.
Trees and wires blew down at the intersection of MD-107 Whites Ferry Road and MD-28 Darnestown Road.
Trees blew down near the intersection of MD-23 Norrisville Road and White Hall Road.
Trees blew down on MD-146 Jarrettsville Pike at Dulaney Valley Road.
Numerous large trees blew down along MD-190 River Road between Falls Road and I-495 Capital Beltway, including several onto wires and houses.
Numerous trees blew down on eastbound Clara Barton Parkway and on MacArthur Boulevard near I-495 Capital Beltway.
Numerous trees blew down on southbound I-495 Capital Beltway Outer Loop after MD-190 River Road.
The National Park Service reported that the entrance to Great Falls National Park on the Maryland side was blocked by fallen trees.
There were numerous reports of trees blown down in the Jarrettsville area.
Trees blew down on southbound I-83 at Exit 18/MD-943 Warren Road.
Numerous trees blew down around Potomac, including one onto a house in the 11000 block of Home Place Lane.
A tree blew down onto a house in the 1600 block of Noyes Drive (near Second Avenue). Numerous other large trees and branches were downed in the area.
A tree blew down onto a house in the 7900 block of Takoma Avenue. Numerous other large trees and branches were downed in the area.
Trees blew down on MD-646 Prospect Road at Bay Road.
Numerous trees blew down on I-495 Capital Beltway between Exit 33/MD-185 Connecticut Avenue and Exit 36/MD-187 Old Georgetown Road.
Trees blew down on MD-543 Ady Road at Walters Mill Road.
Large trees blew down onto a Metro bus, wires, and a car near the intersection of MD-410 East-West Highway and MD-185 Connecticut Avenue.
A tree blew down onto a house in the 6200 block of Vorlich Lane. Numerous other large trees and branches were downed in the area.
Numerous trees blew down between Silver Spring and Bethesda, including a large tree in the 1600 block of Western Avenue.
A tree blew down onto a house in the 11300 block of Palisades Court. Numerous other large trees and branches were downed in the area.
Trees and wires blew down onto a vehicle on Mohican Road.
Trees blew down on US-29 Columbia Pike near Industrial Parkway.
A large tree blew down onto a house in the 100 block of Elm Avenue. Numerous other large trees and branches were downed in the area.
A tree blew down in the 5900 block of River Road.
A wind gust of 51 knots (59 MPH) was measured by the AWOS at College Park Airport (KCGS).
Trees blew down near the intersection of Suitland Parkway and MD-5 Branch Avenue.
Trees blew down on southbound US-29 at Exit 25A/westbound I-70. Trees blew down on MD-144 Frederick Road at Starhill Lane.
A tree blew down into the roadway on Manship Lane.
Westbound Suitland Parkway at Naylor Road was closed due to trees down blocking the roadway.
Trees blew down on US-50 John Hanson Highway at MD-197 Collington Road. Numerous other trees and branches blew down in the area.
Trees blew down on MD-193 Enterprise Road at Chantilly Lane. Numerous other trees and branches blew down in the area.
Numerous trees blew down near the interchange of US-301 Crain Highway and MD-214 Central Avenue.
Trees blew down on MD-4 Pennsylvania Avenue between MD-980D Ritchie Marlboro Road and Old Crain Highway.
Trees blew down on MD-197 Collington Road near US-301 Crain Highway. Numerous other trees and branches blew down in the area.
Trees blew down on southbound US-301 Crain Highway at Leeland Road.
There were over a dozen calls for trees blown down throughout northern Cecil County.
Large tree limbs blew down on MD-214 Central Avenue near Patuxent River Road.
Trees blew down on MD-424 Davidsonville Road at Governor Bridge Road.
A tree blew down onto a house causing some structural damage to the corner of the house on Walnut Trail at North Riverside Drive.
A tree blew down and took down wires splitting a pole in half on Evergreen Road at Oak View Drive.
Several tree limbs blew down near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Crain Highway South.
Trees blew down on MD-43 White Marsh Boulevard at Perry Hall Boulevard.
Trees blew down on MD-2 Governor Ritchie Highway at Cypress Cove Road.
Five trees blew down near the intersection of Chesterfield Road and Hawkins Road.
Several trees and wires blew down blocking Arundel Beach Road and Woodland Road.
Trees blew down at the intersection of Willow Tree Drive and High Oak Road.
Trees blew down blocking the roadway at the intersection of Drum Avenue North and Christy Road.
Trees blew down blocking the roadway at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Our Place.
There were eight reports of trees blown down across northern Calvert County (between North Beach, Huntingtown, and Prince Frederick).
A tree blew down near the intersection of Fairground Road and Bel Alton Newtown Road.
There were over a dozen calls for trees blown down across central to southern Cecil County.
Wind gusts of up to 50 knots (58 MPH) were measured by the Point Lookout WeatherFlow sensor (XPTL).
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, June 2025
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: 1255613, 1255655, 1255661, 1255662, 1255665, 1255667, 1255668, 1255670, 1255674, 1255675, 1255678, 1255679, 1255684, 1255688, 1255689, 1255690, 1255696, 1255698, 1255701, 1255704, 1255705, 1255716, 1255718, 1255720, 1255723, 1255724, 1255725, 1255726, 1255734, 1255735, 1255738, 1255739, 1255744, 1255747, 1255749, 1255753, 1255754, 1255756, 1255757, 1255758, and more.