A Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) developed over the Midwest and tracked quickly eastward, affecting northern to central Maryland during the late afternoon hours with swaths of 60 to 70 mph 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 Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) developed over the Midwest and tracked quickly eastward, affecting northern to central Maryland during the late afternoon hours with swaths of 60 to 70 mph 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 Jun 6, 2:19 PM EST, 16 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
319 PM EDT Sat Jun 6 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for western Maryland,
the eastern West Virginia Panhandle, and a small portion of
northern Virginia. This watch is in effect until 8pm this
evening. Strong to severe thunderstorms could bring damaging
winds and large hail to these areas.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8pm this
evening for western Maryland, eastern West Virginia Panhandle,
and parts of northern Virginia.
- 2) Dry and warm late Sunday and into Monday.
- 3) Hot and humid conditions for the second half of the week
with daily thunderstorm chances.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until
8pm this evening for western Maryland, eastern West Virginia
Panhandle, and parts of northern Virginia.
A mid-level trough of low pressure, moving out of the eastern
Ohio Valley, will ignite showers and thunderstorms across our
northern third of our region, mainly along and north of I-66. A
Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8pm this evening
for western and central Maryland, northeastern West Virginia
including the eastern Panhandle, and far northern Virginia. A
fast- moving squall line of heavy showers and severe
thunderstorms are currently racing east- southeastward across
southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. Frequent
lightning, wind gusts over 55 mph, and large hail are occurring
in this activity. A tornado can't be ruled out within this
squall line. This activity will reach Garrett County in Maryland
between 315pm and 330pm and should continue onward toward the
east- southeast over the next hour or two. The added heat,
temperatures reaching upper 80s to middle 90s, and humidity with
dewpoint temperatures in the lower to middle 60s will aid in
this convection continuing on strong. CAPE is 1000-1500 J/kg
and MLCAPE is around 500 J/kg so instability isn't overly high.
Wind shear is 20-30 kts. Much of the convection will impact
western and central Maryland and most of northeastern West
Virginia, including the eastern Panhandle. Parts of northern
Virginia could also feel the impact of damaging winds and hail
between 4pm and 7pm. Additional strong to severe thunderstorms
could develop ahead of the squall line or near the periphery and
some could even make it close to the northwestern suburbs of
Baltimore City. Low confidence on this. The main threats will
be damaging wind gusts over 60 mph, large hail, downpours, and
lightning. A cold front at the surface will follow this
evening's convection later this evening and overnight. It looks
as if the front will slow its forward movement on the south and
southwest flank of it. Thus, a few lingering showers and a
thunderstorm could exist anywhere in our northern half of the
region into the 1am to 2am timeframe. Some isolated convection
could linger or refire during the Sunday morning or midday hours
due to this possible stalled front.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Dry and warm late Sunday and into Monday.
A front will slide to the south and southwest, stalling as it
moves. Limited shower activity expected. As a matter of fact,
most places north and east of the Virginia Piedmont will be dry
and remaining warm. Highs in the middle 80s to near 90 on
Sunday. Low temperatures Sunday night will likely fall into the
60s as a cold front presses further south.
Monday will be dry with high pressure building into the region.
Highs in the lower to middle 80s.
KEY MESSAGE 3...Hot and humid conditions for the second half of the
week with daily thunderstorm chances.
After the relatively lower temperatures Monday and Tuesday, heat
will begin to build Wednesday as the surface high moves off the
coast. Ensemble temperature plots suggest Thursday through Saturday
will be the hottest days with temperatures potentially well into the
90s. The heat index may rise above 100 degrees in some areas as dew
points will be higher these days compared to some of our recent hot
days.
The higher theta-e airmass will arrive on Wednesday as well. Details
are still a little uncertain with how strong mid/upper level ridging
will be, and when exactly shortwaves may approach from the
northwest. In the end, there is some shower and thunderstorm
potential each day Wednesday through Saturday, even if it is
ultimately terrain-driven and limited in coverage. There may be some
severe weather risk given the heat and humidity, although it may be
isolated due to relatively weak shear (assuming a stronger trough
does not unfold). It's possible a cold front and stronger jet streak
could approach at some point next weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
VFR conditions are likely at the TAF sites of CHO and maybe IAD
and DCA. This would depend on the convection this afternoon not
making it these sites. Otherwise, MRB could encounter a period
up to an hour of IFR or LIFR should the squall line in
southwest PA make its way to the terminal or additional
convection develops between 4pm and 7pm. BWI and MTN could get
impacted between 6pm and 9pm but confidence is low. Winds
southwest to west 5 to 10 knots, except brief gusts 30 to 40
knots in any strong thunderstorms near MRB and perhaps BWI and
MTN. Winds becoming northwest 5 to 10 knots Sunday. Any isolated
heavy showers around IAD, DCA or CHO on Sunday could bring brief
MVFR conditions and gusts over 30 knots.
VFR is expected to prevail Monday into Tuesday.
Thunderstorms are possible during the afternoon and evenings of
Wednesday and Thursday. Winds likely remain 10 kt or less out of the
south or west.
&&
.MARINE...
SCAs remain in effect for the waters through 8pm. Any
convection that reaches the northern and central Chesapeake Bay
late this afternoon and evening could bring about SMWs or MWSs
depending on the duration. Winds could gust over 35 knots in
strong thunderstorms. MWSs may be warranted in the central and
southern Chesapeake Bay and much of the Potomac waters on Sunday
should any convection linger near the surface front.
As high pressure moves off the coast, southerly flow will prevail
Monday through Thursday. Wednesday may have the highest chance
for winds near advisory criteria. However, channeling events
could bring marginal advisory conditions each evening/night as
well.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for MDZ008.
VA...None.
WV...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for ANZ530-
531-535-538.
&&
DISCUSSION...ADS/KLW/DHOF
AVIATION...ADS/KLW/DHOF
MARINE...ADS/KLW/DHOFHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 147 PM EDT Sat Jun 6 2026 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508- VAZ053>057-527-071800- 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 Sat Jun 6 2026 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 few strong to severe thunderstorms may affect northeast Maryland including the Baltimore metro area and the upper Chesapeake Bay from late afternoon into this evening. Damaging wind gusts are the main threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday A strong to severe thunderstorm or two could producing locally damaging wind gusts Sunday afternoon from near Fredericksburg to southern Maryland. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening. MDZ003>006-503-505-507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501-502-505>508- 526-WVZ050>053-055-071800- Washington-Frederick-Carroll-Northern Baltimore- Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard-Northwest Harford-Augusta- Rockingham-Shenandoah-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 Sat Jun 6 2026 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 portions of north central and western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and northwest Virginia. Damaging wind gusts are the main threat, though some hail is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday A strong to severe thunderstorm or two could producing locally damaging wind gusts Sunday afternoon across the central Shenandoah Valley into the central Virginia piedmont. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening. MDZ501-502-509-510-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-071800- 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 Sat Jun 6 2026 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 until 8 PM for Allegany, Garrett, and Mineral Counties. Damaging wind gusts are the main threat, though some hail is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:36 UTC.
20 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree was reported down along Trap Run Road.
A large tree was reported down on Brenneman Road near the Bittinger Fire Department.
A large tree was reported down between Lake Drive and North Bel Air Drive Southwest.
A personal weather station at Mountain Lake measured a wind gust of 57 knots (66 MPH).
A tree was reported down on Garrett Highway near Blue Ribbon Road, closing the roadway.
There were over a dozen calls for trees blown down throughout Allegany County.
A wind gust of 61 knots (70 MPH) was measured by the ASOS at Hagerstown Regional Airport (KHGR).
A large tree was reported down along Cedar Lawn Drive.
There were dozens of trees, branches, and power lines blown down especially in northeastern Washington County near Hagerstown. Approximately 12,000 power outages resulted from the storm damage.
Washington County 911 Call Center reported over 100 storm related calls for damage. Dozens of large trees and power lines were downed in the east-central to northeast part of the county.
Frederick County OEM reported hundreds of trees and wires down resulting in over 9,000 power outages and dozens of blocked roadways.
Trained spotter reported numerous large trees down in Ijamsville.
Numerous large trees blew down in northern Manchester. Awnings were damaged in Gamrbills.
There was a report o fa large tree downed onto 21000 block of Club Hollow Road. The tree was blocking the road, and knocked some wires down.
There was a report of a tree and wires down at the intersection of Old Hundred Rd and Barnesville Rd.
Multiple trees blew down north of Reisterstown.
A tree blew down onto the road blocking it near intersection of Watkins Mill Rd and Blunt Road.
A tree was downed onto the 7100 block of Old Stage Road.
Numerous trees blew down across Forrest Hill.
A couple of trees blew down along Brighton Dam Road, between MD-650 and the Howard County line.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, June 2026
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: 1329466, 1329467, 1329468, 1329484, 1329469, 1329470, 1329485, 1329471, 1329472, 1329473, 1329474, 1329475, 1329476, 1329477, 1329478, 1329479, 1329480, 1329481, 1329482, 1329483.