Journal of Emerging Scholarship

Extreme weather results from interactions between atmospheric instability, moisture, and dynamic forcing across vertical levels of the atmosphere. This study analyzes weather events affecting Maryland to assess how combining observational and thermodynamic data classify storm intensity. Available radar data and satellite imagery supported evaluation of storm organization, while Stüve Diagrams derived from observations taken at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) were analyzed to examine temperature, moisture profiles, and atmospheric stability. Official National Weather Service weather and climate reports from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) were also used to help assess each storm scenario’s level of severity. Thermodynamic soundings were evaluated using stability weather indices to compare storm intensity across ordinary, moderate, and severe events. Results indicated that stronger storm impacts generally occurred when instability and moisture were supported by favorable vertical structure and lifting. Though numerical values of the weather indices are quantitative, the storm severity choices were mainly subjective based on the qualitative nature of each of the index classifications. However, no single index consistently distinguished storm severity with some cases showing substantial impact even though instability indices were low. Findings demonstrated that assessing storm intensity is most effective when using multiple meteorological products. Integrating comparative stability indices with real-time observational data provides a reliable framework for evaluating thunderstorm potential and severity. In Maryland, where atmospheric conditions across the region can be diverse and can change rapidly, this multi-product approach enhances forecast accuracy and improves understanding of the processes resulting in ordinary and high-impact weather events.