Critical Impact-Based Decision Support Services by NWS Baltimore/Washington Following the Collapse of the Interstate 695 Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland

A disaster occurred in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024, when the M/V Dali container ship struck a support column of the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, causing the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River. In the hours after the bridge collapse, National Weather Service (NWS) Baltimore/Washington meteorologists provided initial Decision Support Services to local and state-level first responders on the scene. In the weeks and months that followed, detailed 24-hour spot forecasts, seven-day hazardous weather briefings, three-day wind forecasts, and daily 24-hour hazards and tide forecasts were provided to the Unified Command and other local, state, and federal partners involved in the recovery effort.

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the main channel serving Baltimore resulted in the closure of the Port of Baltimore for approximately two months. The closing of one of the United States’ busiest ports caused devastating economic damage to the Baltimore region and country as a whole. The quick reopening of the channel was of utmost importance. The weather support provided by NWS Baltimore/Washington was critical in enabling recovery personnel to work quickly and safely to reopen a crucial waterway, thereby maintaining the nation’s economy.

This presentation provides an overview of the nearly three months of Impact-Based Decision Support Services that NWS Baltimore/Washington meteorologists provided in response to the collapse of the FSK Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. Additionally, the presentation explores best practices for communicating with responding agencies as oversight of an incident changes, deployment of meteorologists to provide on-site support as needed, and challenges associated with a 24-hour weather watch.