2026 Mid-Atlantic Severe Storm General Discussion

[Chinook]

PDS tornado warning for Dover DE

[Mrs.J]

Wow Dover DE!

[TSG]

 yikes.. I hope damage is minimal

 

[yoda]

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
Issued by National Weather Service New York NY
618 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

DEC001-202245-
/O.CON.KPHI.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-260820T2245Z/
Kent DE-
618 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
KENT COUNTY...

At 618 PM EDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Dover Speedway, or over Dover, moving northeast at 30
mph. Damage from the tornado has been reported in Dover.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes,
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction
         is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Dover, Camden, Cheswold, Rising Sun-Lebanon, Rising Sun, Dover Base
Housing, Dover Speedway, Wyoming, Little Creek, Leipsic, Rodney
Village, Kent Acres, and Highland Acres.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is occurring. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3921 7561 3930 7542 3929 7542 3928 7540
      3920 7538 3909 7539 3908 7558 3912 7562
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 247DEG 28KT 3919 7550

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

[CAPE]

Damn that doesnt sound good.

[CAPE]

Pouring here now. Just give me the rain. Don't need the rest.

 

[AlexD1990]

10 minutes ago, TSG said:

 yikes.. I hope damage is minimal

 

I have never seen a signature like that in this area.

 

My god

[CAPE]

Just now, AlexD1990 said:

I have never seen a signature like that in this area.

 

My god

That's probably gonna be an EF2, hopefully not a 3

[yoda]

Spotter in Dover reported flying debris and rain wrapped tornado at 618pm

[frd]

3 minutes ago, yoda said:

Spotter in Dover reported flying debris and rain wrapped tornado at 618pm

Dover has missed rain for months on end, but today they are the epicenter of severe. 

[CAPE]

Very impressive thunder, but sort of in between the main line and another developing cell congealing just to my SE for now.

0.40" so far

Glad I got that unexpected storm on Monday that produced just under an inch.

[vortex95]

Cyclic tornadic storm as well.  Second one over the bay.
 

[CAPE]

2 minutes ago, vortex95 said:

Cyclic tornadic storm as well.  Second one over the bay.
 

 

[Eskimo Joe]

Couple of observations:

1.) Solid call by SPC on the tornado watch upgrade. Looks like the 18z IAD RAOB came in and they went "oh boy".

2.) Too many chuds on social media think they know better than the nerds in Oklahoma.

3.) The video coming out of Kent County, DE are impressive. Looks like a legit tornado went right by Dover Air Force Base.

[Eskimo Joe]

Video of the Columbia, PA funnel cloud/tornado.

 

 

[vortex95]

1 minute ago, CAPE said:

 

Great video, but can Timmer please stop inventing hype words for wx -- "water trumpet?"  I storm chased most years 1992-2016 and know many in the storm chase community, and I have never heard a tornado or waterspout put that way.  Cheesy media hype nonsense.  Put a different label on something common/mundane to "sell" it more. 

And really, mets and wx enthusiasts can figure out easy what "water trumpet" means, but the general public?  Some will go, "is that a new wx phenomena!?"  And such can work it way into mainstream media.  I recall on WTOP they used "rain bomb" one time to describe a tstm heavy rain event, and I cringed.
 

[CAPE]

A few photos of the line approaching. This was right about the time Dover was potentially getting rocked by a tornado. Also nudged this guy off the road.

 

 

[vortex95]

4 minutes ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Video of the Columbia, PA funnel cloud/tornado.

 

 

Wow, I am surprised it was that visible given the strong HP nature of the supercell there, but if you get real close right up in the inflow notch, you can spot HP tors, but it is often very risky.

I wonder if anyone got video of the DOV tor.  Same deal.

"Almost" a "wedge!"   I say that in jest b/c many like stating a tor is a wedge even when it isn't!  

[Chinook]

Tornado warning at Woodbine NJ

[CAPE]

0.93" and still raining moderately, but on the back edge.

Just about 2" since Monday.

[mappy]

48 minutes ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Video of the Columbia, PA funnel cloud/tornado.

 

 

Not sure if it’s the same location/area but Eastern High School, I think in Lancaster Co, had its roof/parts of blown off

[CAPE]

 

[Itstrainingtime]

15 minutes ago, mappy said:

Not sure if it’s the same location/area but Eastern High School, I think in Lancaster Co, had its roof/parts of blown off

Directly across the river from each other. Eastern School district is in York county.

[vortex95]

9 minutes ago, CAPE said:

 

Looks like a classic "forward flank" tornado.  You get these w/ HP supercell sometimes.  You can see the tor is just ahead of the heavy pcpn area.  I bet it got complete rain-wrapped shortly after this pix was taken.

[Eskimo Joe]

50 minutes ago, mappy said:

Not sure if it’s the same location/area but Eastern High School, I think in Lancaster Co, had its roof/parts of blown off

If it's in Lancaster County, then that is near Ephrata, PA and would verify the second tornado warning. Unfortunately that would mean two tornadoes just outside the Tornado Watch box.

[frd]

Special Marine Warning
ANZ630-650-652-680-682-210200-
/O.NEW.KAKQ.MA.W.0197.260821T0036Z-260821T0200Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Special Marine Warning
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
836 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026

The National Weather Service in Wakefield has issued a

* Special Marine Warning for...
  Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA...
  Coastal waters from Chincoteague to Parramore Island VA out 20
  NM...
  Coastal waters from Fenwick Island DE to Chincoteague VA out 20
  NM...
  Waters from Chincoteague VA to Parramore Island VA from 20 to 60
  NM...
  Waters from Fenwick Island DE to Chintoteague VA from 20 to 60
  NM...

* Until 1000 PM EDT.

* At 835 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing wind
  gusts to 40 knots and waterspouts were located along a line
  extending from 8 nm northwest of Delaware Lightship Buoy 44009 to
  11 nm northwest of Chincoteague Bay, moving southeast at 20 knots.

  HAZARD...Wind gusts to 40 knots and waterspouts.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally
           hazardous seas. Small craft could be damaged in briefly
           higher winds and suddenly higher waves.

* Locations impacted include...
  Assawoman Bay, Ocean City Inlet, Chincoteague Bay, Chicken Bone,
  Parking Lot, Assateague Beach, Blackfish Reef, Gulf Rambler Wreck,
  Ocean City Pier, 10 Nm East Of Ocean City Inlet, Jackspot Reef,
  Chincoteague, 10 Nm Se Fenwick Island, Bone Wreck, African Queen
  Wreck, and Fenwick Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for southeastern
Maryland.

Move to safe harbor until hazardous weather passes.

&&

LAT...LON 3846 7504 3818 7418 3751 7516 3782 7558
      3788 7557 3789 7561 3784 7562 3795 7577
      3801 7570 3796 7559 3790 7560 3793 7551
      3797 7552 3814 7533 3826 7530 3827 7524
      3833 7520 3839 7523 3845 7515
TIME...MOT...LOC 0035Z 310DEG 19KT 3854 7486 3811 7553

WATERSPOUT...POSSIBLE
HAIL...0.00IN
WIND...40KTS

$$

BROWN