Storms near Maryland
The record holds 71 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Maryland between 1856 and 2021. The busiest month is September, with 31 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 2 strength. 3 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 71storms within 50 km
- 0major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 13at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Maryland?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 14 | 20% |
| Tropical storm | 41 | 58% |
| Category 1 | 10 | 14% |
| Category 2 | 3 | 4% |
| Category 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 3 | 4% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Maryland storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2021, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1856, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 2 |
| 1860s | 6 |
| 1870s | 6 |
| 1880s | 11 |
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 2 |
| 1910s | 1 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1930s | 3 |
| 1940s | 3 |
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 3 |
| 1970s | 3 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 2 |
| 2020s | 3 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 1 |
| Jun | 3 |
| Jul | 9 |
| Aug | 17 |
| Sep | 31 |
| Oct | 10 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Maryland
- Unnamed storm of October 1878 (North Atlantic)13 October 1878 to 25 October 1878, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 963 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1879 (North Atlantic)12 August 1879 to 20 August 1879, Category 2 (90 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 971 hPa
- Gloria (1985)16 September 1985 to 2 October 1985, Category 2 (90 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 920 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1894 (North Atlantic)26 September 1894 to 12 October 1894, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt)
- Unnamed storm of September 1903 (North Atlantic)12 September 1903 to 17 September 1903, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (85 kt), 990 hPa
- Connie (1955)3 August 1955 to 15 August 1955, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 944 hPa
Most recent storms near Maryland
- Elsa (2021)30 June 2021 to 10 July 2021, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 991 hPa
- Isaias (2020)28 July 2020 to 5 August 2020, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 986 hPa
- Fay (2020)5 July 2020 to 11 July 2020, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 998 hPa
- Ana (2015)6 May 2015 to 12 May 2015, Tropical depression (30 kt) near here, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 998 hPa
- Irene (2011)21 August 2011 to 30 August 2011, Category 1 (65 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 942 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
Maryland ranks number 14 among US states and territories for the number of storms.
Notable storms near Maryland with their own pages
- Gloria (1985)16 September 1985 to 2 October 1985, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 920 hPa
- Connie (1955)3 August 1955 to 15 August 1955, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 944 hPa
- Floyd (1999)7 September 1999 to 19 September 1999, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 921 hPa
- Irene (2011)21 August 2011 to 30 August 2011, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 942 hPa
- Bertha (1996)5 July 1996 to 17 July 1996, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 960 hPa
- Isabel (2003)6 September 2003 to 20 September 2003, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 915 hPa
- David (1979)25 August 1979 to 8 September 1979, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 924 hPa
- Fran (1996)23 August 1996 to 10 September 1996, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 946 hPa
- Allison (2001)5 June 2001 to 19 June 2001, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 1,000 hPa
- Jeanne (2004)13 September 2004 to 29 September 2004, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 951 hPa
- Ivan (2004)2 September 2004 to 24 September 2004, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
Maryland counties
Every county that a storm has come near is listed, most storms first. 24 of them have at least 3 storms and their own page.
| County | Storms | Strongest near the county |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester County | 36 | Category 2 |
| Somerset County | 34 | Category 1 |
| Wicomico County | 34 | Category 1 |
| St. Mary's County | 30 | Category 2 |
| Dorchester County | 29 | Category 1 |
| Charles County | 26 | Category 2 |
| Prince George's County | 25 | Category 2 |
| Baltimore County | 24 | Category 2 |
| Anne Arundel County | 23 | Category 2 |
| Frederick County | 23 | Category 2 |
| Montgomery County | 23 | Category 2 |
| Washington County | 23 | Category 1 |
| Carroll County | 22 | Category 2 |
| Howard County | 22 | Category 2 |
| Talbot County | 22 | Tropical storm |
| Calvert County | 21 | Category 2 |
| Caroline County | 21 | Tropical storm |
| Harford County | 20 | Category 1 |
| Baltimore city | 17 | Category 2 |
| Kent County | 16 | Category 1 |
| Cecil County | 15 | Category 1 |
| Queen Anne's County | 15 | Tropical storm |
| Allegany County | 12 | Category 1 |
| Garrett County | 7 | Category 1 |