A closer look at September’s severe weather

 

The Enhanced Fujita Scale (Source: NOAA)

Severe weather is defined as a thunderstorm that contains any of the following: wind gusts of at least 58 mph, hail 1”/+ in diameter, or a tornado. Although it’s less common in September than during the spring and early summer, severe weather does occur. The remnants of tropical storms and hurricanes can also be a significant contributor to severe weather this time of year. 

2024:  Hurricane Helene was a devastating Category 4 hurricane that had far-reaching impacts in areas well inland both before and after its September 27 landfall in the Florida panhandle. A large and powerful storm, Helene and its remnants spawned dozens of tornadoes between September 25 – 27. The most active severe weather day was September 26 when 17 tornadoes touched down in South Carolina.

2023: The first half of September was quite hot in the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) with plenty of record heat. Not surprisingly, there was no shortage of severe weather between September 7 – 9. There were dozens of large hail and damaging wind reports in DC, Maryland and Virginia. According to NOAA, a wind gust of 75 mph occurred in Williamsport, Maryland on September 7 and hail 1.25” in diameter was observed near Dulles Airport in northern Virginia on September 8.

2020: A small but significant severe weather outbreak occurred in the DMV on September 3. Several reports of severe wind gusts were reported with a variety of damage that ranged from downed trees and power lines to roof damage. An EF-1 tornado also developed in Anne Arundel County, Maryland that tracked over six miles, according to NOAA.  

2018: Hurricane Florence made landfall on September 14 and its remnants lingered for several days, bringing devastating flooding and severe weather to the Mid-Atlantic Region. The DMV experienced significant impacts on September 17-18, with 13 confirmed tornadoes in Virginia alone. The strongest was an EF-2 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with wind speeds of 115-125 mph. A September 18 record rainfall total of 2.22” occurred at BWI Airport.

2001: September 24 will be the 25^th anniversary of the deadly F3 College Park tornado that claimed the lives of two sisters who were caught in their car on the campus of the University of Maryland. At peak intensity, the tornado had winds of nearly 200 mph. Although it was ranked an F3 at the time, the College Park tornado would be a borderline EF4/EF5 tornado today. The College Park tornado was one of several, including an F4 in Culpeper County, Virginia that touched down across the DMV.