Notable July severe weather events

 

Severe weather reports, July 25, 2010 (Source: NOAA)

Although less common than in May or June, the D.C. metropolitan area has experienced severe weather in July. Given the severe weather that’s occurred so far this month, it’s a good time to look at some memorable examples of other recent July severe weather outbreaks.

2023: Dozens of severe wind gusts were reported over a three-day period across D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) from July 27 – 29. Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities despite the widespread tree damage that occurred. A wind gust of 84 mph were reported on the campus of George Washington University in the nation’s capital on July 29. Another wind gust of 69 mph also occurred in Germantown, Maryland.

2022: The DMV had an active severe weather day on July 12.  Following a typical July afternoon with highs in the 90s and dewpoints in the low 70s, coupled with a high degree of atmospheric instability, there were multiple severe wind and hail reports between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Fortunately, power outages were minimal and no fatalities were reported. This outbreak came a week after another outbreak that included two tornadoes. One tornado touched down in Bowie, Maryland and another in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

2021: There were two confirmed tornadoes within D.C. city limits on July 1. An EF-0 with winds of approximately 80 mph was seen near the U.S. Capital. A second tornado developed in Arlington, Virginia, and tracked across the Potomac into D.C. It was an EF-1 with peak winds of 90 mph during its 4.4-mile path.

2017: Several rounds of thunderstorms brought severe weather and flash flooding to parts of the DMV from July 22 - 24. The most significant was in Queen Anne’s County in Maryland on July 23. An EF-2 tornado was on the ground from 1:29 a.m. to 1:33 a.m., with peak winds of 125 mph. Although the tornado caused appreciable damage to the towns of Bay City and Stephenville, Maryland, there were no fatalities. A 3-day rainfall total of 2.37” was reported at National Airport.

2010: A significant heat wave was capped off on July 25 with highs near 100°. That’s when a squall line developed west of town and came through the nation’s capital with multiple severe wind gusts. These storms produced a slew of downed trees and power lines that resulted in widespread power outages, especially in densely populated Montgomery County, Maryland.

NOAA’s criteria for a thunderstorm to be “severe” is when it contains one or more of the following: wind gusts of at least 58 mph; hail 1” in diameter or greater; or a tornado. While heavy rain and lightning don’t make a thunderstorm “severe” per se, all thunderstorms are potentially dangerous and should be taken seriously.