File:GOES-13 Satellite Sees Line of Strong to Severe Thunderstorms Headed to Washington, DC (5664975318).jpg

This visible image from the GOES-13 satellite was captured on April 28 at 1332 UTC (9:32 a.m. EDT) as a huge line of strong and severe thunderstorms moved through central Maryland triggering two tornado warnings. The image shows the line moving through Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia. Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland is visible through cloud cover in the center of the image. The whitest clouds in the line are the highest, strongest thunderstorms.

These storms were part of a long line of strong to severe thunderstorms stretching from upstate New York to southern Virginia. This portion of the line was headed toward the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. corridor. This line had triggered two Doppler radar spotted tornadoes earlier in Frederick and Montgomery County, Md. (west of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.). The tornadoes are currently unconfirmed, but some damages have been reported. Gusty winds, small hail, heavy rain, frequent lightning and isolated tornadoes were possible with this line.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-13 is operated by NOAA, and NASA's GOES Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. creates images and animations from the satellite data.

Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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