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
 

[WxUSAF]

Tiny wedge of slight risk of storms for north central MD tomorrow 

[batmanbrad]

8 hours ago, WxUSAF said:

Tiny wedge of slight risk of storms for north central MD tomorrow 

the early afternoon SPC D2 outlook did expand the SLGT somewhat so that it now covers a good sized portion of our area.... still doesn't look like it'll be a particularly high end event, may or may not end up getting a watch out of it tomorrow.  But, something to follow.

 

[Eskimo Joe]

35 minutes ago, batmanbrad said:

the early afternoon SPC D2 outlook did expand the SLGT somewhat so that it now covers a good sized portion of our area.... still doesn't look like it'll be a particularly high end event, may or may not end up getting a watch out of it tomorrow.  But, something to follow.

 

Could be a decent day north of I-70 into PA. More scattered than isolated wind damage.

[mappy]

In SYR rest of the week. Looks stormy tomorrow 

[vortex95]

On 8/23/2026 at 11:38 AM, WEATHER53 said:

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

Missing the heaviest part of the line, but getting some +CGs in the rear close-by makes my day!  You can get some really odd acoustics!  Also, the many times a +CGs is a long CC bolt at first, and then it comes down, so the flashing can be atypically extended.  That's how you know many times it is a +CG even if you do not see the bolts.

And I know ppl here know this, but look for the "bright-banding" in the rear of a MCS for +CGs.  It's not bright-banding as in wet snowflakes aloft, but it looks the same.  Broad 35-45 dBZ area.  Typically, the precip is "big drop, steady light rain" under such echoes.

[vortex95]

On 8/23/2026 at 12:20 PM, 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.




.

Unless there was a steam expansion explosion, which can happen easily w/ a quick single strike (trees are common). this looks like it could have been "sizzle bolt" as I like call them.  You know the ones that pulse multiple times in the same spot, sometimes lasting up to 4-5 sec in the most exceptional cases (I saw a bolt like this once in OK, and my jaw nearly dropped to the floor b/c it was so "long" in pulsing!).  Or it could ave been a +CG, which are often 10x stronger than a typical -CG.

 

[vortex95]

On 8/24/2026 at 12:16 PM, CAPE said:

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
 

6 tor in the PHI CWA, so I think the 5% tor risk worked out well.  And just looking on radar what the Dover supercell was like, you knew things were quite favorable!

[high risk]

I don't hate the Thursday severe setup.  Parameters are not high-end for sure, but there is probably enough instability and shear to justify the SLGT risk.   CAMs prefer areas to the east and northeast of DC.   Several have an idea of initial storms in northeast MD backbuilding through the Baltimore area and eventually into Howard/PG/AA Counties before sinking south towards Charles/Calvert/St Marys.   It's an odd evolution, but given that it shows up in multiple evening CAMs, I can't discount it.

[dailylurker]

Models seem to want to hold off on storms until this evening around dark. The slight risk area includes most of the area. Time is ticking on thunderstorm season. I'd like to get a good lighting show. It's been super lame in the lighting department imby.

[Kmlwx]

19 minutes ago, dailylurker said:

Models seem to want to hold off on storms until this evening around dark. The slight risk area includes most of the area. Time is ticking on thunderstorm season. I'd like to get a good lighting show. It's been super lame in the lighting department imby.

Two things that can work in our favor for severe weather later in the season are more robust mid-latitude systems producing better dynamics and of course tropical systems. I am pretty doubtful we'll get tropical impacts this year - but certainly the first factor could play into it. 

September 24, 2001 comes to mind as a clear cut example of fall severe events here. 

Get a robust shortwave or closed H5 low and weird things can happen. Even as late as November we can get a super dynamic system (the type where the storms come up form the SW to the NE instead of NW to SE and give us brief spin ups and damaging wind along a squall line. 

ETA: And don't forget those weird January/February events we've seemingly seen a few of over the past decade or so where we get a random slight or enhanced to cover some weird cold season dynamic event. 

[Eskimo Joe]

Latest HRRR is actually decent for aerial coverage of storms, though not anything overly robust. At least it would help chip away at the dry conditions.

[yoda]

Severe Thunderstorm Watch coming soon for most of us per MCD

 

Mesoscale Discussion 2147
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   1252 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2026

   Areas affected...south-central and southeast Pennsylvania into the
   West Virginia Panhandle...northern Virginia...and portions of
   Maryland

   Concerning...Severe potential...Watch likely 

   Valid 271752Z - 271945Z

   Probability of Watch Issuance...80 percent

   SUMMARY...The threat for severe thunderstorms capable of damaging
   wind gusts, marginally severe hail, and perhaps a brief tornado is
   expected to increase between 19-21Z. A severe thunderstorm watch is
   likely.

   DISCUSSION...Visible satellite imagery indicates deepening cumulus
   along the high terrain from the WV Panhandle and northern VA into
   portions of south-central PA amidst a warming and destabilizing
   boundary layer with MLCAPE of 1500-2500 J/kg, per latest objective
   analysis. Continued daytime heating coupled with the glancing
   influence of a subtle disturbance passing near and to the southeast
   of the area is expected to support a gradual increase in
   thunderstorms across the discussion area over the next 2-3 hours. 

   The degree of instability combined with around 30 kt of deep-layer
   shear will support some storm organization, including possible
   supercell and/or bowing structures, with the primary hazard being
   damaging wind gusts as low-level lapse rates continue to steepen.
   Marginally severe hail is also possible, especially with any
   supercells that may evolve. A conditional brief tornado threat may
   materialize, particularly over northeast MD into far southeast PA,
   with storms developing along or favorably interacting with an
   outflow boundary associated with ongoing storms over NJ, where
   low-level shear may be locally enhanced.

   ..Mead/Mosier.. 08/27/2026

   ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...

   ATTN...WFO...CTP...LWX...

   LAT...LON   39077875 39737844 40637732 40627690 40387647 39907632
               39407623 38477666 38207758 38277862 39077875 

   MOST PROBABLE PEAK TORNADO INTENSITY...UP TO 90 MPH
   MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST...55-70 MPH
   MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE...1.00-1.75 IN