An approaching cold front combined with a very hot and humid airmass to generate severe thunderstorms around much of the Mid Atlantic on July 18. Reports were received from the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, through the Washington/Baltimore corridor, to the Chesapeake Bay. The most intense of the severe storms occurred in the Berkeley Springs, WV area, where the worst damages occurred, and a report of tennis-ball sized hall was also reported. Other portions of the Eastern Panhandle experienced extensive flash flooding during this severe weather episode as well.

Hail in GRANT, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 13:58:00 to 18-JUL-06 13:58:00 (EST)
Location: PETERSBURG
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Golfball sized hail occurred along North Creek Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in PENDLETON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 15:30:00 to 18-JUL-06 15:30:00 (EST)
Location: FRANKLIN
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Trees down.

Hail in GRANT, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 13:35:00 to 18-JUL-06 13:35:00 (EST)
Location: PETERSBURG GRANT ARP
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Penny sized hail.

Hail in MORGAN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 15:18:00 to 18-JUL-06 15:25:00 (EST)
Location: BERKELEY SPGS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Quarter sized hail.

Hail in MORGAN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 18:02:00 to 18-JUL-06 18:02:00 (EST)
Location: BERKELEY SPGS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Quarter sized hail.

Flash Flood in MORGAN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 19:13:00 to 18-JUL-06 21:30:00 (EST)
Location: BERKELEY SPGS
Property damage: 125K
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Warm Springs Run was out of its banks. The Emergency Services Director stated that the flash flooding just south of Berkeley Springs was the worst experienced in the past 30 years. Some street flooding and closed streets was reported in downtown Berkeley Springs. The Berkeley Springs high school sustained damages in the school cafeteria. The basement walls of a house in Berkeley Springs collapsed due to the heavy rainfall. Mesner Road near Libby's Ridge Road sustained damages. Several vehicles were stranded in high water along US Route 522 just south of Berkeley Springs. A few other roads were washed out due to the flash flooding.

Hail in MORGAN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 16:30:00 to 18-JUL-06 16:35:00 (EST)
Location: BERKELEY SPGS
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 750K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Hail to the size of tennis balls was reported at a local business in Berkeley Springs. Newspaper reports indicated roughly 100 cars were damaged by the very large hail stones.

Hail in GRANT, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 14:30:00 to 18-JUL-06 14:30:00 (EST)
Location: PETERSBURG
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Nickel sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind in MORGAN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 16:35:00 to 18-JUL-06 16:35:00 (EST)
Location: BERKELEY SPGS
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 13K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Trees were downed in Berkeley Springs.

Hail in HAMPSHIRE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 16:53:00 to 18-JUL-06 16:53:00 (EST)
Location: FORKS OF CACAOH
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Quarter sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind in BERKELEY, WEST VIRGINIA
From 18-JUL-06 17:10:00 to 18-JUL-06 17:10:00 (EST)
Location: HEDGESVILLE
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Trees down.