Calvert County, Maryland Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1872, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Calvert County, Maryland — about one every 7.0 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 47 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 47 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 81 kt (93 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1943) — 4.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 22
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1872 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1870s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1872–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 27.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 26 Sep 1992 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Dean (1983) | 30 Sep 1983 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 4.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 4 Sep 1934 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 5.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 34.8 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 18 Sep 1876 | 47.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 12 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here. Showing the 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2023 | 28.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 28.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 9.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 7.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | Post-tropical | 29 Sep 2004 | 16.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 20.8 mi | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 10.6 mi | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 19.4 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | Post-tropical | 4 Oct 1877 | 35.7 mi | 55 kt |
How Calvert County, Maryland compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Calvert County, Maryland ranks #716 — more exposed than 67.6% of them. Within Maryland it ranks #6 of 24, against a state average of 20.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 35 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1904) passed 41 miles away on 15 September 1904 as a tropical storm, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 28 miles away on 13 July 1996 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 32 miles away on 23 August 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 22 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 22 storms spread over the 154 years from 1872 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 29 years, between 1904 and 1933. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 21 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Calvert County, Maryland?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Calvert County, Maryland at hurricane strength since 1872. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 22.
When was the last hurricane in Calvert County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1933), on 23 August 1933, passing 32 miles away — 93 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Calvert County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 35 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Calvert County, Maryland?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.0 years — 22 storms over the 154 years from 1872 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Calvert County, Maryland borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. St. Mary's County, Maryland has 27 on record.