Cecil County, Maryland Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1863, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Cecil County, Maryland — about one every 9.6 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 18 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 18 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 76 kt (87 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDanielle (1992) — 3.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles3 of 17
- Peak monthAugust — 6 storms (35% of all)
- Most active year1955 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1870s and 1950s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1863–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 26 Sep 1992 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 4 Jun 1963 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 30.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 39.7 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 46.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 8 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.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 1 Sep 2021 | 10.4 mi | 34 kt |
| Sandy (2012) | Post-tropical | 30 Oct 2012 | 18.8 mi | 58 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 40.4 mi | 37 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 27.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 15.4 mi | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 8.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 25.8 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | Post-tropical | 1 Nov 1899 | 14.7 mi | 50 kt |
How Cecil County, Maryland compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Cecil County, Maryland ranks #904 — more exposed than 59.1% of them. Within Maryland it ranks #17 of 24, against a state average of 20.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 40 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 40 miles away on 13 July 1996 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Isaias (2020) passed 18 miles away on 4 August 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 32 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
17 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 storms spread over the 163 years from 1863 to 2025. 1 separate year 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 1963 and 1992. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 15 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Cecil County, Maryland?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Cecil County, Maryland at hurricane strength since 1863. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 17.
When was the last hurricane in Cecil County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1878), on 23 October 1878, passing 40 miles away — 148 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isaias (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Cecil County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 40 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Cecil County, Maryland?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.6 years — 17 storms over the 163 years from 1863 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Cecil County, Maryland borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Kent County, Maryland has 20 on record.