A strong cold front resulted in a few bands of thunderstorms that produced widely scattered instances of wind damage.
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 strong cold front resulted in a few bands of thunderstorms that produced widely scattered instances of wind damage.
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 20, 9:30 AM EST, 4 hours 26 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1030 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Nothing.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Widespread strong to severe thunderstorms expected this afternoon
and evening as a strong cold front crosses, ending the record
heat.
2) Turning showery and sharply cooler Thursday into early next week
with several days of much needed rainfall.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1... Record heat continues through today. A strong
cold front brings widespread strong to severe thunderstorm
chances this afternoon and evening.
Relief is on the way today as a strong cold front approaches the
region. The front will break the record heat while bringing renewed
strong to severe thunderstorm chances to the region. Dewpoints
will also hover close to 70 degrees making for more of that true
summertime feel in the DMV. The added heat and humidity
combined with the strong cold front will be the catalyst for
thunderstorm development this afternoon.
The entire region has been upgraded to a Slight Risk (Level 2
out 5) for severe weather per SPC. This aligns with CSU Learning
Machine probabilities along with NCARS AI NWP Convective
Forecast and NSSL Probs for the afternoon and evening period.
The coverage storms looks to be scattered to numerous although
the severe threat will be isolated given west to southwest flow
aloft. MLCAPE values will peak in the 1000-2000 j/kg range this
afternoon with 0-6km shear values less than 30 kts. This would
support multicellular clusters capable of producing damaging
winds (downbursts) and large hail. Current 00z CAM guidance
shows a variety of solutions when it comes to timing. General
consensus is for convection to fire along a lee side trough east
of the Alleghenies/toward I-81 early to mid afternoon between
1- 4 pm before sliding east into the metros between 3-9pm. The
greatest coverage of storms (i.e best organization) appears to
be north of I- 66/US-50 given the progression of the front as it
drops in from the northwest. Locations further south may see
more of a smattering of storms (in multiple rounds) pushing
through. Still believe there will be enough coverage of severe
thunderstorms for a Severe Thunderstorm Watch to be issued at
some point this afternoon for portions of the area. Not
expecting flash flooding given current 6 hr QPF values around
1-2" and 3 hr FFG values just above those marks. Could see some
increased runoff in typical urban /poor drainage areas and
areawide with recent drought concerns.
Convection should start to wane after 8 PM tonight, but showers
could linger well into the overnight as the cold front crosses.
Lows tonight will fall back into the mid 50s and low 60s.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Turning showery and sharply cooler Thursday into
early next week with several days of much needed rainfall.
Synoptically, looking at a transient/wedge pattern Thursday into the
upcoming holiday week. Weak troughing will reside over the Ohio
River Valley with high pressure locked across New England/Great
Lakes region. The combination of these two features along a stalled
front to the south will lead to persistent onshore flow into the
region.
As a result, expect several days of on and off shower/thunderstorm
activity through the remainder of week into the Memorial Day
holiday. Sunshine will be limited with plenty of cloud cover
expected and cooler than normal temperatures as a result of the east
to northeast flow. Highs Thursday will take a 25 to 30 degree dive
behind the front with many locations struggling to push 70 degrees.
Temperatures will continue to run below normal on Friday, struggling
to make it into the 60s. Ensemble guidance shows much larger spread
in temperatures Saturday through Monday, with some solutions keeping
us locked into low cloud cover and temperatures in the 50s/60s,
while some other solutions try to break us out of the low clouds,
causing temperatures to climb into the 70s.
The most notable thing in the extended, outside of the sharp
cooldown will be the much needed rainfall as a result of this active
pattern. Periods of on and off showers with overrunning along the
boundary will yield rain totals of 1 to 3 inches through early next
week. Some localized amounts of 4"+ are possible back across the
Alleghenies and up into central/northeast MD. With that said, this
should ease some of the severe and extreme drought across the
region.
&&
.AVIATION /14Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
VFR conditions are expected to continue across the terminals through
18z/2pm ahead of a strong cold front. Sub-VFR restrictions return at
times this afternoon and evening due to widespread showers and
strong/severe thunderstorms. Expect convection to initiate in the
vicinity of KMRB/KHGR/KSHD between 18-21/2-5pm advancing east toward
the I-95 corridor terminals between 20-24z/4-8pm. Did opt for TEMPOs
toward BWI/MTN/MRB with PROB30s further south toward IAD/CHO/DCA
given hi-res model output suggesting a greater focus of convection
north of I-66/US-50. Winds will remain out of the west/southwest
ahead of the front before shifting back to the north and northwest
Thursday at 5 to 15 kts with gusts 20 to 25 kts at times. Some low
CIGS may hang on through Thursday morning as the front slowly sags
south of the region.
Periodic rain showers moving through the region on Thursday
afternoon and evening bring additional sub-VFR periods at terminals
Wind gusts could reach 15 to 20 knots on Thursday before gradually
decreasing. Sub-VFR conditions possible Friday through Sunday with
multiple rounds of showers and embedded thunderstorms. Winds
generally northeast to east 5 to 10 knots, more gusty in heavy
showers.
&&
.MARINE...
Winds may near low-end SCA levels in south to southwesterly
channeling this afternoon and evening (mainly open/wider waters),
and then again in northerly channeling on Thursday. SMWs appear
possible this afternoon and evening as thunderstorms move over the
waters.
East to northeast SCA level winds are expected over much of the bay
and surrounding inlets Friday and Saturday given increased onshore
flow. No marine hazards are expected Sunday and Monday with winds
switching back to the south and southeast.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Here are some daily temperature records during the May 19-20,
2026 timeframe:
A '+' sign indicates multiple years currently hold that record.
A '!' sign indicates the record is forecast to be tied or broken.
***WEDNESDAY, MAY 20TH, 2026***
LOCATION RECORD HIGH (YEAR) RECORD WARM LOW (YEAR)
Washington-National (DCA) 96F (1996) 73F (2019)
Washington-Dulles (IAD) 93F (1996) 69F (2019)
Baltimore (BWI) 95F (1962) 71F (2019)+
Baltimore Inner Harbor (DMH) 97F (1962) 74F (1998)+
Martinsburg (MRB) 97F (1911) 70F (1998)
Charlottesville (CHO) 96F (1996) 73F (1996)
Annapolis (NAK) 98F (1997) 76F (1898)
Hagerstown (HGR) 97F (1996) 66F (1998)
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...None.
VA...None.
WV...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 8 PM EDT this
evening for ANZ533-534-537-542-543.
&&
DISCUSSION...LFR/KLW/DHOF/EST
AVIATION...LFR/KLW/DHOF/EST
MARINE...LFR/KLW/DHOF/ESTHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 1244 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ008-011-013-014-016>018-504-506-508- VAZ053>057-527-211000- 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- 1244 PM EDT Wed May 20 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 Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the Baltimore and Washington metro areas and northeast Maryland until 8 PM tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .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>053-055-211000- 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- 1244 PM EDT Wed May 20 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 for most of the area until 8 PM tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MDZ501-502-509-510-VAZ503-504-WVZ501>506-211000- 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- 1244 PM EDT Wed May 20 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 for the entire area until 8 PM tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:56 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
There was a photo of two trees down on Fort Valley Road near the trailhead.
Trees blew down on eastbound VA-725 Paxson Road in the vicinity of VA-719 Airmont Road.
Trees blew down on eastbound Business-VA-7 Main Street/East Loudoun Street in the vicinity of Simmons Road.
Trees blew down on Paxson Road just west of VA-690 Silcott Springs Road.
Two trees were down around the 800 block of Downing Farm Road.
Large tree limbs blew down along US-15 near Sugarloaf View Lane.
A tree blew down in the 3000 block of Senseny Rd.
Numerous trees blew down on Cherry Hill Road and Fiery Run Road.
Spotter reported downed trees and large limbs near Buck Mountain Road and Link Evans Road.
Spotter reported multiple trees down near Buck Mountain Road and Markwood/Simmons Gap Road.
A one-half mile section along the 9300 block of US-50 John Mosby Highway was closed due to power lines and power poles down from thunderstorm wind gusts.
A tree blew down on Catesby Farm Lane.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, May 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: 1325873, 1325874, 1325875, 1325876, 1325877, 1325878, 1325879, 1325880, 1325881, 1325882, 1325883, 1325884.