Charles County, Maryland Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1876, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Charles County, Maryland — about one every 6.8 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 32 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 32 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1878) — 83 kt (96 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1933) — 5.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 22
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1930s and 2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1876–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 28.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Dean (1983) | 30 Sep 1983 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 38.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 2 Aug 1944 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 4 Sep 1934 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Aug 1933 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 13 Sep 1883 | 26.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 23 Oct 1878 | 8.3 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 18 Sep 1876 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 13 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 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2023 | 7.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 27.5 mi | 45 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 17.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 12.2 mi | 24 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 36.1 mi | 23 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 37.4 mi | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 12.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 9.6 mi | 50 kt |
How Charles County, Maryland compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Charles County, Maryland ranks #718 — more exposed than 67.5% of them. Within Maryland it ranks #8 of 24, against a state average of 20.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 8 miles away on 23 October 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 6 miles away on 23 August 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 24 miles away on 18 September 1876 as a tropical storm, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Isaias (2020) passed 32 miles away on 4 August 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 59 kt (68 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 22 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 22 storms spread over the 150 years from 1876 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 22 years, between 1893 and 1915. It has been 5 years since the last one; 7 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Charles County, Maryland?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Charles County, Maryland at hurricane strength since 1876. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 22.
When was the last hurricane in Charles County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1933), on 23 August 1933, passing 6 miles away — 93 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isaias (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Charles County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1878), which reached 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 8 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Charles County, Maryland?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.8 years — 22 storms over the 150 years from 1876 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Charles County, Maryland borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Westmoreland County, Virginia has 27 on record.