Archive: Thunderstorms
Haiku Forecast
Wx and the City By Ann Posegate Forecasts can be complicated and uncertain. So, here's your plain and simple weather report for the day: Goin' on a date? Bring an umbrella for two Thunderstorms likely. (It's ok to count the...
By Capital Weather Gang | August 15, 2008; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (14)
Lightning Flash in Slow Motion
This video scores an 8/10 on the 'wow' factor... Lightning in Super Slow Mo - Watch more free videos [Video was recorded in Alabama.] Read about lightning safety....
By Jason Samenow | August 12, 2008; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (5)
Photography: Storms From 30,000 Feet
Classic strong to severe thunderstorm southeast of the area around 3:15 p.m. one week ago. As severe weather was passing through the area last Sunday, I was inbound on a flight returning from a trip to Florida. Though I was...
By Ian Livingston | August 3, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Photography: Thunderstorm Cloud Tops
The sun is setting behind the anvil top of cumulonimbus clouds last Sunday evening. This photo was taken from Laurel, Md.. Last Sunday evening, I was leaving a swim meet in Laurel, Md. and I noticed towering thunderstorm clouds on...
By Kevin Ambrose | July 26, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
Alert: Watch, Warnings Issued as Storms Move In
UPDATE: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in effect for St. Mary's and Calvert Counties until 11:45 a.m., and for Talbot County until 12:15 p.m. Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 4 p.m. for Fairfax and Montgomery Counties, the District, and points east....
By Capital Weather Gang | July 22, 2008; 10:02 AM ET | Comments (15)
A Trigger-Happy Weather Service?
Two weeks ago I wrote about how our local National Weather Service (NWS) office in Sterling, Va. issued a staggering 205-210 severe weather warnings for the area (from central Va. to northern Maryland, not including the eastern shore) during June....
By Jason Samenow | July 15, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Lightning Myths Revealed
Wx in the City Lightning strikes in the nation's capital last summer. By Capital Weather Gang photographer Kevin Ambrose. By Ann Posegate, Guest Contributor For 50,000 points, here is this week's Lightning Safety Week question: By which number must you...
By Capital Weather Gang | June 25, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (0)
Photography: Saturday's Severe Storm
A plane approaching National Airport passes in front of a severe thunderstorm at 8:15 p.m. On Saturday evening, environmental conditions perfectly aligned for the development of isolated severe storms that impacted parts of the metro area. An outflow boundary, a...
By Ian Livingston | June 22, 2008; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (9)
Beware of Bolts From the Blue
You've just discovered the email announcing that you've inherited $5 million is not spam. You've just received a Dear John letter from your loving significant other. You've just been promoted from intern to company CEO. You're standing outside under clear...
By Steve Tracton | June 20, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
"We Are In the Tornado"
Last week, four boy scouts tragically lost their lives when a tornado struck their camp in western Iowa. Storm chasers following the storm accidentally got caught in it and captured this jaw-dropping video: Remember the video we showed a few...
By Jason Samenow | June 17, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Severe Storms Strike Again
Main risk for metro area between 3:30 and 8 p.m. *Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9 p.m* *Storm reports from washingtonpost.com Live Coverage blog* ALERTS 7:00 PM: The rain is moving off and partial clearing is occurring from west to east....
By Ian Livingston | June 16, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (44)
Not Again! Moderate Risk of Severe Storms
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center threat map paints a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms over much of the area today. In a normal year, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) places the metro area under a "moderate risk" for severe storms maybe...
By Jason Samenow | June 16, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (7)
How Not to React to a Tornado Siren
Could this lady be any less panicked? (make sure to watch with sound)......
By Dan Stillman | June 12, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (6)
Eyewitness Recounts Apparent Tornado Sighting
[5:00 p.m. update: National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in the location described and photographed by eyewitness Jerry Bahorich below. Maximum winds were estimated at 95 mph, the path length was 1.5 miles long and the...
By Jason Samenow | June 6, 2008; 12:15 PM ET | Comments (10)
Recap: June 4 Severe Weather Outbreak
A historic severe weather outbreak for the area One of several large limbs that fell in Dupont Circle during "Round One" of severe weather. Once the numbers are finalized, June 4, 2008 may go down in the books as one...
By Ian Livingston | June 5, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (38)
Storms Continue to Batter Area
Major impacts reported *Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1 a.m.* ALERTS 7:40 PM: A Tornado Warning is in effect for parts of Culpeper, Fauquier, Prince William, and Stafford counties until 8 p.m. 6:45 PM: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings have been...
By Capital Weather Gang | June 4, 2008; 06:30 PM ET | Comments (0)
CommuteCast: Severe Weather Moving Through
Damaging winds, large hail, isolated tornadoes possible ALERTS 3:57 PM: Tornado Warning remains in effect for Anne Arundel County until 4:15 p.m. At 3:51 p.m., radar indicated a tornado located 2 miles south of Arnold, moving east at 38 mph....
By Ian Livingston | June 4, 2008; 02:25 PM ET | Comments (133)
Update: Storm Threat Shifting South
*Tornado Watch lifted for immediate metro area* *New Tornado Watch in effect until 9 p.m. for southern suburbs (Prince William, Fauquier and Stafford counties) and central and southern Virginia.* A satellite image of the thunderstorm complex over the metro area...
By Jason Samenow | May 31, 2008; 03:23 PM ET | Comments (30)
NOAA: Moderate Risk of Severe Thunderstorms
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the storm threat from slight to moderate today. A moderate risk indicates a potential for a greater concentration of severe thunderstorms than the slight risk, and in most situations, greater magnitude of the severe...
By Jason Samenow | May 31, 2008; 08:11 AM ET | Comments (10)
Severe Weather Risk More than Slight
The D.C. area is under a "slight risk" for severe thunderstorms tomorrow. That's not as insignificant as it may sound. Graphic courtesy the Storm Prediction Center. The D.C. area is under a "slight risk" for severe thunderstorms tomorrow, and I...
By Dan Stillman | May 30, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (18)
Unbelievable Tornado Video from Colorado
See CNN.com: It's Huge....
By Capital Weather Gang | May 22, 2008; 04:01 PM ET | Comments (2)
Are Tornadoes Becoming More Common?
Dave Fahrenthold's article in today's Washington Post reports it's hard to say. For more reading on this subject, see the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center's tornado climatology page, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center's tornado trends...
By Jason Samenow | May 21, 2008; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (2)
Projectile Automobiles
Watch the video below to understand why it's a bad idea to be in your car when a tornado strikes. This incredible video was captured by a surveillance camera from an equipment company in northern Alabama on Thursday according to...
By Jason Samenow | May 13, 2008; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (7)
Region Battered by Heavy Rains, Wind, Tornado?
*Damage, Flooding Reported After Storms* Trees down. Lights and power off. Numerous reports of flooding, wind damage and road closures. Over 2.5 inches at Reagan National Airport since last night. Oh, and there's that issue of a possible tornado in...
By Jamie Jones | May 9, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (7)
Inside the Suffolk, Va. Tornado
[Update, 10:15 p.m.: The National Weather Service (NWS) rated the Suffolk tornado a "3" on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. It has put together an excellent page with imagery, video, photos and its storm assessment.] We preempt the Weekly Top Five...
By Jason Samenow | April 29, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (16)
Comment of the Week: Thunderstorm Winds
Each week, the Capital Weather Gang will search for an outstanding reader comment to potentially highlight on the blog. We found a good one this week. In response to Dan Stillman's "Weather 101: The Madness to March Winds", 'Mike' provided...
By Jason Samenow | March 17, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (4)
In Focus: This Evening's Storm Threat
The storm passing through tonight means business. A Flood Watch is in effect for the risk of torrential rains and the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., indicates there is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms. Simulated rainfall from tonight's...
By Jason Samenow | March 4, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
