Dorchester County, Maryland Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 26 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dorchester County, Maryland — about one every 6.4 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 24 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 24 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1904) — 63 kt (72 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1888) — 5.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles15 of 26
- Peak monthSeptember — 12 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1882 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 26 Sep 1992 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 16.7 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 5.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2025 | 37.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 4.4 mi | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 41.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 35.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 14.1 mi | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | Post-tropical | 29 Sep 2004 | 4.9 mi | 27 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 5.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 36.3 mi | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 42.0 mi | 65 kt |
How Dorchester County, Maryland compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Dorchester County, Maryland ranks #611 — more exposed than 72.3% of them. Within Maryland it ranks #5 of 24, against a state average of 20.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1904) passed 17 miles away on 15 September 1904 as a tropical storm, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 9 miles away on 13 July 1996 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1861) passed 34 miles away on 27 September 1861 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Isaias (2020) passed 25 miles away on 4 August 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 59 kt (68 mph) while within 50 miles.
25 of the 26 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 26 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 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 35 years, between 1904 and 1939. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 23 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Dorchester County, Maryland?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Dorchester County, Maryland while at hurricane strength. 26 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1859, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1904).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Dorchester County, Maryland?
Elsa (2021), on 9 July 2021, passing 24 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Dorchester County, Maryland at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Dorchester County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1904), which reached 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 17 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Dorchester County, Maryland?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.4 years — 26 storms over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Dorchester County, Maryland borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Somerset County, Maryland has 36 on record.