2026 Mid-Atlantic Severe Storm General Discussion

[aldie 22]

Got dumped on and it still looks interesting off to the west

[87storms]

Just heard thunder. The summer of humidity-inspired storms continues in Frederick.

[aldie 22]

Pouring again 

[yoda]

59 minutes ago, EastCoast NPZ said:

Direct hit.  By far, the best storm of the year.  The first to cross the 1" mark.

And more rain for you

[snowfan]

Slowest line ever

[EastCoast NPZ]

16 minutes ago, yoda said:

And more rain for you

Literally poured for 30 seconds.  The biggest, heaviest, loudest drops i have ever seen.  Like somebody turned on a switch, then turned it off.  The cell seemed to split right over my yard.  Best went to the north.  Did pick up another quick .15".  About 1.3" total this evening.  Desperately needed.

[87storms]

3 minutes ago, EastCoast NPZ said:

Literally poured for 30 seconds.  The biggest, heaviest, loudest drops i have ever seen.  Like somebody turned on a switch, then turned it off.  The cell seemed to split right over my yard.  Best went to the north.  Did pick up another quick .15".  About 1.3" total this evening.  Desperately needed.

Pretty good event here so far with periodic T&L. Textbook stormy evening.

[AdamHLG]

N. Central B Co checking in. Radar looks good. It’s still air here. Not a breeze. At this rate it will be another hour. Sleep v storm. Who will win.


.

[Eskimo Joe]

Ran outside to take down the deck umbrella and it's just a total stillness. Not even the frogs and insects are making noise.

[Lucketts]

Continued thunder & lightning with multiple rounds of heavy rain for over 30 minutes now.

[WEATHER53]

Is anyone really getting nailed as I’m getting strong   10-15 shaker rumblers and barely seeing the lightning 

I got an important night event in Frederick to hang on and  not cancel by saying last night and all day that the afternoon stuff would head east and the nighttime would start at 10pm.  Event ran 7-9:15 .  Rain started at 10:05 .

Im back at kemp mill and no rain yet and not much lightning but every single one is a huge thunder maker off in the distance 

[SnowenOutThere]

3 hours ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Definitely some kind of boundary hanging on there around I-64 / CHO. Storms just colliding and tops trying to refire.

Got to my apartment today and it was a good storm. Not much wind but tons of good lightning and thunder. 

[vortex95]

On 8/22/2026 at 12:20 AM, Chinook said:

Here's a very good meteorological discussion of the tornadoes in Dover and Long Island NY.

 

 

The video headline is misleading. Tornadoes are not "rare" in NY or DE. They occur every year.

[vortex95]

3 hours ago, WEATHER53 said:

Is anyone really getting nailed as I’m getting strong   10-15 shaker rumblers and barely seeing the lightning 

I got an important night event in Frederick to hang on and  not cancel by saying last night and all day that the afternoon stuff would head east and the nighttime would start at 10pm.  Event ran 7-9:15 .  Rain started at 10:05 .

Im back at kemp mill and no rain yet and not much lightning but every single one is a huge thunder maker off in the distance 

Yes, big +CGs N side of the Beltway a few hours ago!  House shakers!

[WEATHER53]

9 hours ago, vortex95 said:

Yes, big +CGs N side of the Beltway a few hours ago!  House shakers!

About 10 biggies  3 of which shook the house and one of which made a very odd oscillating thunder 

[lsukev5]

I work for the Smithsonian in Front Royal. We had what appears to be a lightning strike to an old 30 foot chimney right next to my office. We found bricks 50 yards away.




.

[MN Transplant]

3 hours ago, lsukev5 said:

I work for the Smithsonian in Front Royal. We had what appears to be a lightning strike to an old 30 foot chimney right next to my office. We found bricks 50 yards away.




.

Wow, that's intense.

[CAPE]

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
453 PM EDT Sun Aug 23 2026

...NWS Damage Survey for August 20th, 2026 Tornado Event - Update #3...

.Update...One additional tornado has been confirmed with this 
update near Hazlettville in Kent County, DE. A total of six 
tornadoes have now been confirmed within our area from Thursday's 
severe thunderstorms.

The details for the Marydel and Hazlettville tornadoes are included
below. There have been no changes to the other tornadoes that were 
previously confirmed.


.Dover, DE Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:    100-110 mph
Path Length /statute/:  3.2 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards 
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             August 20, 2026
Start Time:             6:09 PM EDT
Start Location:         2 miles SW Dover, Kent County, DE
Start Lat/Lon:          39.1396 / -75.5564

End Date:               August 20, 2026
End Time:               6:14 PM EDT
End Location:           1 mile NNE Dover, Kent County, DE
End Lat/Lon:            39.1700 / -75.5184

Summary: On August 20, 2026, a tornado formed over the open 
fields west of Wyoming Mill Rd near Riverside Rd, scarring the 
crops before moving to the tree line east of Wyoming Mill Rd, 
snapping several branches and tree tops. The tornado then made 
direct contact with the Dover Little League baseball fields at 
Schutte Park, causing extensive damage across two of their 
baseball diamonds. At least seven large wooden field lighting 
fixtures were snapped at either the base or halfway up, falling 
onto the fencing surrounding the fields. Additional fencing was 
also ripped from their posts and believed to have been caused 
directly from the tornadic winds rather than impacted from another
object. One large scoreboard secured by a brick foundation fell 
over and a second one supported by metal posts was bent and likely
crushed by an unknown projectile. Part of a tree was observed in 
the middle of one of the fields with no clear origin.

The tornado then hit the City of Dover VanSant Generating 
Station, shifting one trailer off its foundation and causing minor
roof damage to a metal building structure in addition to visibly 
denting the metal siding with unknown projectiles. The tornado 
then carved a path through another tree line before impacting a 
factory warehouse where some of the most significant damage 
occurred. Two sections of concrete block walls collapsed, a few 
trailers were sent tumbling, and a small section of the metal roof
came off. The damage to this facility confirmed max wind gusts of
a high-end EF-1.

The tornado then moved ENE. Continuing its path, the tornado zig-
zagged through the main downtown area of Dover where it was 
weaker at this point, downing a few trees and snapping branches 
along W North Street before turning towards Dover City Hall and 
turning again towards Memorial Park. The tornado then began moving
NNE along Park Dr and Kings Hwy, downing large trees and 
branches. As it approached the intersection of Kings Hwy and N 
Dupont Hwy, the tornado intensified again and reached its maximum 
width of 100 yards. The tornado reached a second peak intensity 
here as it peeled half of the roof off one motel, damaging the 
roof to the motel next door, and downing two large business signs.
This significant roof damage provided secondary confirmation of 
max wind gusts of a high-end EF-1. The tornado quickly dissipated 
afterwards.

The National Weather Service would like to thank the Kent County 
Department of Public Safety and Delaware Emergency Management 
Agency for their assistance with this survey.


.Barclay, MD Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:    95-105 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.5 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   65 yards 
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             August 20, 2026
Start Time:             5:41 PM EDT
Start Location:         2 miles W Barclay, Queen Anne's County, MD
Start Lat/Lon:          39.1479 / -75.9016

End Date:               August 20, 2026
End Time:               5:42 PM EDT
End Location:           1 mile WNW Barclay, Queen Anne's County, MD
End Lat/Lon:            39.1490 / -75.8910

Summary: A brief tornado touched town near Barclay, snapping and 
uprooting several softwood and hardwood trees in a wooded area 
next to a residence located near the intersection of Dell Foxx Rd
and Barclay Rd. The tornado then moved east across a bean field 
and onto a residential property on Benton Corner Rd, where more 
softwood and hardwood trees, including a robust cedar tree, were 
snapped at the trunk.

The National Weather Service would like to thank the Queen Anne's
County Department of Emergency Services for their assistance with
this survey.


.Marydel, DE Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:    90-100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  1.33 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   60 yards 
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             August 20, 2026
Start Time:             5:54 PM EDT
Start Location:         1 mile S Marydel, Kent County, DE
Start Lat/Lon:          39.0957 / -75.7399

End Date:               August 20, 2026
End Time:               5:56 PM EDT
End Location:           2 miles SE Marydel, Kent County, DE
End Lat/Lon:            39.1025 / -75.7170

Summary: A tornado occurred near Marydel beginning along the east 
side of Grygo Rd, about a quarter mile south of the intersection 
of Mahan Corner Rd, taking down several tree limbs near a 
residence. It then crossed Grygo Rd and uprooted two very large 
oak trees that fell on the corner of a home. Additional hardwood 
trees were uprooted along the property as the tornado headed ENE 
into a heavily wooded area. Drone footage showed the tornado 
continued to cut a path through the treeline, snapping large 
branches and uprooting a variety of trees down a narrow path. 
While drone footage was unable to confirm the full length of 
destruction in the wooded area, just on the other side of the 
wooded area, a residence along Parkers Chapel Rd experienced the 
total loss of an old barn and shed in addition to several downed 
trees and branches.

The National Weather Service would like to thank the Kent County 
Department of Public Safety and Delaware Emergency Management 
Agency for their assistance with this survey.


.Hazlettville, DE Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind:    70-80 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.6 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             August 20, 2026
Start Time:             6:02 PM EDT
Start Location:         0.3 miles ESE Hazlettville, Kent County, DE
Start Lat/Lon:          39.1159 / -75.6368

End Date:               August 20, 2026
End Time:               6:03 PM EDT
End Location:           0.9 miles ENE Hazlettville, Kent County, DE
End Lat/Lon:            39.1189 / -75.6271