A line of thunderstorms developed over western Maryland and eastern West Virginia, then significantly gathered strength as it moved east into the I-95 corridor. Destructive winds, very large hail, and a tornado were observed with some of the most intense storms.
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 line of thunderstorms developed over western Maryland and eastern West Virginia, then significantly gathered strength as it moved east into the I-95 corridor. Destructive winds, very large hail, and a tornado were observed with some of the most intense storms. Additional thunderstorms in a weakening but still severe state crossed the Appalachians overnight.
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 May 16, 9:00 AM EST, 5 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1000 AM EDT Fri May 16 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
A warm front is expected to lift through and to the northeast
of the region today into late afternoon. A low pressure system
will move into the Great Lakes today with a trailing cold front
pushing through the area on Saturday. High pressure will build
in from the north Sunday and Monday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As expected, a line of moderate to heavy showers has developed
across central MD this morning and is moving east towards the
Chesapeake Bay. This is along a boundary set off by a much
stronger MCS that is ripping across northern PA at this time. It
doesn't appear that the line will have anything severe over our
area, but a brief downpour can be expected in these areas.
Later this afternoon into this evening, thunderstorms may
develop along remnant outflows from this morning convection in
conjunction with Bay/River breezes. This would be our first shot
at severe thunderstorms today, and would generally be along and
east of I-95 roughly. It seems that we will have no issues with
heating today, along with very high dew points in the 70s, so
this round could be quite strong if it is able to develop. Model
guidance and current obs do depict some westerly mid-level flow,
which could be an inhibiting factor to CI this afternoon.
However, I want to stress that if something does develop in this
environment, all hazards will be possible with any storm that
develops.
Another round of severe weather could be on the horizon later
this evening into the overnight hours. This is still very
uncertain though, and very dependent on an MCS developing to our
west and tracking in such a way that would impact our area.
Since we won't have our daytime heating, the severity could be
diminished some, but the humidity, nearby trough, approaching
cold front on Saturday could be enough to make it interesting in
terms of severe elements overnight. At this time, would feel
more confident that this occurs across central/southern VA, but
can't be 100 percent certain at this time. This is very much a
"wait and see what develops" scenario and will be much more in
the way of NOWcasting later today.
Given all of these threats today, the Storm Prediction Center
has our region in a Slight Risk for Severe Thunderstorms today
into tonight. The threats are damaging wind gusts and large
hail. Accompanying these threats will be heavy rain and could
occur over areas that had already taken on a lot of rainfall in
the past few days. A marginal risk for excessive rainfall is
also highlighted for our area today for the localized potential
for some flash flooding.
High temperatures today should push the upper 80s in the eastern
half or even close to 90.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As eluded to in the previous paragraph and Near Term, a cold
front will approach and push across the region on Saturday.
Looks like, it could sweep through mid-morning Saturday (mntns)
and late afternoon Saturday (Bay). Nonetheless, the Storms
Prediction Center is keeping the eastern half of our region in a
Slight Risk for Severe Thunderstorms Saturday into Saturday
night. A Marginal Risk a little farther to the west. Stay tuned
for development of showers and thunderstorms along this front.
High temperatures will remain warm with highs in the middle to
upper 80s Saturday.
Once the front pushes through the region, Saturday night and
through the day Sunday, winds will shift around from a warm
southwest flow and increase out of the northwest by Sunday into
Sunday night.
Drier and cooler air will filter in during this window. Highs
Sunday will be more likely in the middle 70s and seasonable for
mid-May.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
The long term period will start out dry as surface high pressure
builds over the forecast area. High temperatures will be in the 70s
to low 80s with higher elevations staying in the 60s. Dry conditions
continue through Tuesday morning as high pressure shifts eastward.
To the southwest, a low pressure system developing over the central
CONUS will track eastward towards the forecast area, bringing
precipitation chances beginning Tuesday afternoon. Showers and
thunderstorms are possible areawide Wednesday and Thursday afternoon
as the associated warm front nears the area.
Temperatures will be below normal with highs gradually falling each
day. By Thursday, high temperatures will be in the 60s for most with
higher elevations staying in the 50s. Overnight low temperatures
will be in the 40s and 50s.
&&
.AVIATION /13Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
There is also potential for one or more rounds of showers and
thunderstorms early this morning then again later this afternoon.
The first of which will move through the northern half of the
area early. Have added some thunder into the BWI and MTN for the
next hour or so to capture this line of showers/storms. May
have to introduce thunder in at some point if things continue to
trend upward.
A second round of storms is possible later this afternoon into
the evening. Any lingering outflow boundaries from this
morning's showers may interact with Bay/River breezes during
this timeframe to fire off some storms. May be difficult to
initiated, but if they do, they will likely be severe in nature.
Damaging and wind gusts and large hail will both be a threat,
should this materialize.
Another round of thunderstorms could arrive tonight into
Saturday morning. This round has the most uncertainty at this
point. An MCS moving in from the Ohio Valley may make it into
our region late this evening into tonight night. This could be
yet another risk for damaging wind gusts, but the timing and
certainty of occurrence is still just not quite there yet. So,
will hopefully have more details as this moves into the TAF
period.
There may be a few storms ahead of a frontal passage on Saturday as
well, which could also contain damaging wind gusts. This should
push through rather early on in the day, giving way to drier
and windy conditions in its wake.
VFR conditions are expected Sunday into the start of next week as
high pressure maintains control across the region.
Northwesterly winds on Monday shift to north/northeasterly on
Tuesday. Winds gust up to 15 knots on Monday and are expected to
blow 5 to 10 knots on Tuesday. VFR conditions are expected both
days across all terminals. The exception will be Tuesday night
where showers and thunderstorms may impact CHO and MRB.
&&
.MARINE...
A line of showers, and perhaps a few thunderstorms, will push
through the area this morning. This could bring some gusty
winds, but SMWs don't seem likely at this time thanks to the
stable layer at the surface still being in place at this time.
Today's forecast continues to grow increasingly tricky area-
wide. There may be some remnant boundaries laying around from
this morning's storms, which could interact with Bay/River
breezes to fire off convection later this afternoon/evening.
Additionally, there may even be an MCS moving towards the region
from the west. This in particular is very uncertain, but any of
these two scenarios could bring severe thunderstorms to the
waters this evening. Will be watching closely, but SMWs will be
likely if storms do develop.
Another chance for severe weather looks to push through late
tonight through early Saturday. Timing and location of yet
another MCS approaching from the west is still very uncertain,
but conditions will be favorable for damaging wind gusts if this
does traverse the mountains and make it to the waters. SMWs
would likely also be needed if this feature tracks directly
over our area.
Additionally, a cold front will push through Saturday, with SCA
conditions likely in its wake. A few storms may develop ahead of
this front early in the day as well, which could bring their own
gusty wind threat.
SCA conditions likely on Sunday as winds gust around 20-25 knots
across all the waters. High pressure settles overhead Sunday night
into Monday, bringing sub-SCA winds.
Northwesterly winds on Monday shift to north/northeasterly on
Tuesday, with SCA criteria winds likely in the northern portions of
the waters Monday afternoon. Winds are expected to drop below SCA
criteria on Tuesday.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Freshwater flooding will continue at Georgetown through this
afternoon with the high tide cycle. The site remains in moderate
flood stage. A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for this
threat. Water should recede this evening and drop back below
flood stage after the overnight high tide cycle.
DC SW Waterfront and Alexandria are going to approach minor
during this morning's high tide cycle, so Coastal Flood
Advisories were issued in advance of this. They may end up
falling just short, but will be very close. Beyond this
morning's cycle, anomalies will continue to drop in the coming
days, with no real concerns for coastal flooding at this time.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...Coastal Flood Warning until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for DCZ001.
MD...None.
VA...Coastal Flood Advisory until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for
VAZ054.
WV...None.
MARINE...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...KLW
NEAR TERM...KLW/CJL
SHORT TERM...KLW
LONG TERM...AVS
AVIATION...AVS/CJL
MARINE...AVS/CJL
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...CJLHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 300 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508- VAZ053>057-527-171900- 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- 300 PM EDT Fri May 16 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 River Flood Warnings remain in effect for the Potomac River upstream of Washington DC. A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for Georgetown due to freshwater flooding. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the entire area except for Spotsylvania and Cecil County. Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the primary threats. Elsewhere, isolated severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds are possible this evening. An isolated instance of flooding may also occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Another round of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and large hail is possible Saturday, particularly during the morning. However, confidence in timing and coverage remains low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters activation may be needed this afternoon into tonight. MDZ003>006-503-505-507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501-502-505>508- 526-WVZ050>053-055-171900- 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- 300 PM EDT Fri May 16 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 River Flood Warnings remain in effect for portions of the Potomac, Shenandoah, and Rappahannock basins early today. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for portions of the area near and north of I-66 and US-50. Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the primary threats. Elsewhere, isolated severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds are possible this evening. An isolated instance of flooding may also occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Another round of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and large hail is possible Saturday, particularly during the morning and mainly along and east of the Blue Ridge. However, confidence in timing and coverage remains low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon into tonight. MDZ501-502-509-510-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-171900- 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- 300 PM EDT Fri May 16 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 A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for portions of the area along and north of US-50. Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the primary threats. Elsewhere, isolated severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds are possible this evening. An isolated instance of flooding may also occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon into tonight.
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 144 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:02 UTC.
58 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
There was a report of trees blown down onto wires in Oakland.
A tree blew down onto a house in the 800 block of Shades Lane.
Numerous trees blew down around Flintstone.
Multiple trees blew down around Little Orleans.
A couple of trees blew down in Kensington.
Trees and power lines blew down, one of which snapped a pole.
Numerous trees blew down along the US-15 corridor from Utica to Frederick.
Numerous trees blew down along the US-15 corridor from Emmittsburg south through Thurmont.
Numerous trees blew down on Ridge Avenue in Mount Airy.
Numerous trees blew down into the roadway on MD-75 Green Valley Road at Jones Road.
Ping pong ball size hail was reported near Westminster.
Quarter size hail was reported east-northeast of Westminster.
Numerous trees blew down between Westminster to Winfield.
Tree branches blew down onto wires in the 14000 block of MD-28 Darnestown Road.
Trees blew down on MD-28 Darnestown Road blocking all lanes near Seneca Creek.
There were multiple reports of power lines blown down in New Windsor.
Dozens of trees blew down in Derwood.
Numerous trees blew down in the Flower Hill area, including one onto a house near the intersection of Cochrane Court and Cochrane Way.
Trees blew down into the roadway on eastbound MD-117 Clopper Road at Game Preserve Road blocking the right side of the roadway.
Trees blew down into the roadway on eastbound MD-117 Clopper Road at I-270 Washington National Pike.
Trees blew down onto wires on Redland Road near Mill Run Drive blocking the entire roadway.
A tree blew down onto a house in the 19000 block of MD-650 New Hampshire Avenue.
Trees blew down into the roadway on eastbound MD-927 Montrose Road at I-270 Washington National Pike.
Tennis ball size hail was reported south-southeast of Hampstead.
A one foot diameter tree blew down on Wilson Lane near Aberdeen Road.
Trees blew down into the roadway on southbound MD-650 New Hampshire Avenue at Stonegate Drive.
Tree branches blew down onto power lines in the 4400 block of Edgebrook Road.
Several trees blew down on Harpers Farm Road.
Quarter size hail was reported north of Reisterstown.
Dozens of trees blew down in Hampstead.
Numerous trees blew down into the roadway on MD-25 Falls Road at Shawan Road/Tufton Avenue.
A pair of trees blew down in the Kendall Ridge neighborhood.
Trees blew down on MD-210 Indian Head Highway at Palmer Road.
Numerous trees blew down into the roadway on southbound I-83 past Exit 24/Belfast Road.
Numerous trees blew down on Shawan Road in Cockeysville.
Multiple trees blew down on Nunnery Lane.
A large tree blew down on Oak Drive in Catonsville.
A tree was uprooted in the Springlake Community near the intersection of Hartfell Road and Eastridge Road.
Two trees blew down at a trained spotter's home location.
A MDOT sensor measured a wind gust of 54 knots (62 MPH).
A trained spotter estimated a wind gust of 50 knots (58 MPH) southeast of Clinton.
A wind gust of 55 knots (63 MPH) was measured by the AWOS at Andrews Air Force Base (KADW).
Siding was partially torn off an apartment building in the 100 block of Nunnery Lane.
Trees blew down into the roadway on southbound I-95 at Exit 47A/southbound I-195.
Trees blew down into the roadway on US-301 Crain Highway at MD-382 Croom Road.
Trees blew down into the roadway on westbound MD-202 Largo Road at Dunloring Drive.
During the mid-afternoon, a line of severe thunderstorms developed across eastern West Virginia and western Maryland and quickly moved east into the early evening hours. Radar showed a significant increase in organization of this line of storms as it moved from Frederick and western Montgomery Counties into Carroll and Howard Counties in Maryland. The first area of concentrated damage was located in Federal Hill Park in the City of Baltimore, where on that hill there were a few uprooted trees and snapped large branches in a linear path heading east towards the Patapsco River. This is where the tornado touched down at 5:51 PM EDT according to weather radar, and then moved across the river south of Fells Point toward the Canton area.
Several trees blew down in Jarrettsville.
Trees blew down into the roadway on northbound US-29 Colesville Road at eastbound MD-193 University Boulevard.
After cross the tidal Patapsco River, a tornado came back onshore in the Canton area. A path of uprooted trees and snapped branches was noted in Canton Waterfront Park, from the shoreline through the park. After this, the tornado moved east towards The Shops at Canton Crossing. This is where the tornado punched a hole near the roofline of the west-facing wall of a fitness facility. Once wind entered the building, it lifted off part of the east roof and blew it to the east-southeast. Areas east of the shopping mall consist of rail yards and industrial facilities, where no damage was noted by survey or reported. From Canton Crossing, the storm turned slightly right to the east-southeast, towards Dundalk. The FAA Terminal Doppler Weather Radar at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport noted the strongest circulation being from this location onward through the end of the life cycle of the tornado. The tornado moved across Interstates 95 and 895 and then through the Holabird Industrial Park, where it did some significant damage to several warehouses. There was also one eyewitness report of seeing the swirl of the tornado while at work during this time. Much of the warehouse damage was due to the wind gaining access into the structures through large garage or bay doors, which then caused uplift and removal of large sections of roofing as well as some damage to walls. One warehouse had a large portion of its structural metal and wood awning damaged. While much of the damage was blown from west to east, convergent tree damage was noted, and at an Amazon warehouse on Holabird Avenue (the same facility struck in November 2018) some damage was blown to the north. Two 18-whell tractor-trailer trucks were blown over at the Amazon facility.
Trees blew down into the roadway on MD-382 Croom Road at Molly Berry Road.
Trees blew down into the roadway on MD-725 Marlboro Pike at US-301 Crain Highway.
There were nearly two dozen reports of trees down in the Mechanicsville area.
Several trees blew down in the Fallston area.
After exiting the City of Baltimore, a tornado moved through northern portions of the Dundalk Historic District causing significant roof and siding damage to several homes and apartments. One of the more significant damage points in this area was a large portion of roofing that was removed from a row of apartments and thrown towards the east-southeast into the next row of apartments. The tornado then continued towards the east-southeast towards Merritt Boulevard. The neighborhood just west of Merritt Boulevard received extensive damage, both structurally and to trees. Many of the trees had their middle and upper branches snapped off. The most significant damage in this neighborhood was to a home's roof that was lofted from the west side of Sunberry Road onto Merritt Boulevard. The homeowner noted that he witnessed debris being carried through the air right before his roof was removed. Beyond this point, the tornado continued briefly towards the east-southeast towards Stansbury Park. There was some damage in the neighborhood east of Merritt Boulevard that remained consistent with a tornado, particularly a wooden utility pole that had been bent over, but not snapped. Damage beyond this point became unidirectional, providing evidence that the tornado likely lifted around Stansbury Park at 6:01 PM EDT, as the rear-flank downdraft winds undercut the circulation leading to straight-line wind damage towards the east.
Several trees blew down in the Bel Air area.
A large tree and several power lines blew down along Ferry Landing Road in Dunkirk.
Several trees blew down in the Joppa area.
Trees blew down onto power lines at the intersection of Soaper Avenue and Magothy Beach Road in Pasadena.
Trees blew down into the roadway on southbound MD-260 West Chesapeake Beach Road.
Several trees blew down in the Piney Point area.
Trees blew down into the roadway on eastbound MD-260 Chesapeake Beach Road.
Several trees and power lines blew down in the 2900 block of Main Street in Edgewater.
A wind gust of 64 knots (74 MPH) was measured by the ASOS at Patuxent River Naval Air Station (KNHK).
Trees blew down into the road across Susquehanna River Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Maryland, 2025Warnings in Maryland, May 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: 1250102, 1250103, 1250104, 1250105, 1250106, 1250107, 1250108, 1250109, 1250110, 1250112, 1250113, 1250114, 1250115, 1250116, 1250117, 1250118, 1250119, 1250120, 1250121, 1250122, 1250123, 1250124, 1250125, 1250126, 1250127, 1250128, 1250129, 1250130, 1250131, 1250132, 1250133, 1250134, 1250135, 1250136, 1250137, 1250138, 1250139, 1250140, 1250141, 1250142, and more.