BLOG: Severe Weather
The stormy and wet weather pattern continues.
The National Weather Service finished their assessment from yesterday's storms, and they have verified that an EF-1 tornado did touch down Tuesday evening just after 8 p.m. in Washington County.
Here's their preliminary report:
05/17/2011 WASHINGTON MD NWS STORM SURVEY 0810 PM TORNADO 1 S MAUGANSVILLE 39.68N 77.75W
2.1 MILE EF-1 TORNADO TRACK ASSESSED NEAR MAUGANSVILLE. WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ALONG THE PATH. SIDING AND SHINGLE DAMAGE WERE COMMON. ISOLATED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ALSO NOTED. TORNADO CONTINUED UNTIL JUST AFTER 8:15 P.M.
Now, a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for most of the state through 9 p.m. Flood and flash flood watches are out through late tonight, and there are flood warnings all up and down the Potomac for varying times.
The connection with the Atlantic is still in place, so there is plenty of moisture to keep feeding rounds of rain and thunderstorms. If any of these thunderstorms do become strong enough for warnings, we will pass that information along to you. There is a lot of energy and spin in the atmosphere today. So if any storm does become severe, there could be enough of a twist for a tornado threat. The thunderstorms will wind down overnight, but some rain will continue. There will be more scattered showers and thunderstorms again tomorrow. Then, even though there will be a round of late-day showers and thunderstorms around Friday, we will start to see some change. More sunshine will break through, temperatures will be on the rise, and the main storm will be weaker and starting to move away.
As of now, it looks like Saturday will be the best day of the upcoming few. The storm should be far enough to the north of us that it takes most of the stormy weather with it. Morning sunshine will mix with building afternoon clouds and we are going up to near 80 degrees. It will be even warmer on Sunday, but the next storm will already be moving in. There could be some late-day showers or thunderstorms popping up. Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms to linger into early next week.
ATTENTION TEACHERS AND STUDENTS:
There is still time! Our fourth annual Weather Field Trip Day at Camden Yards is right around the corner. This year, it will be Thursday, May 26. If you are unfamiliar with the program, it's a day full of fun. We start out with an action, graphics-filled weather program on the field that features helpers like Nicole Sherry (head groundskeeper), Chris Strong from the National Weather Service and, of course, the Bird. Then, everyone takes a lunch break before enjoying an afternoon Orioles game.
Click here for more information.
