Somerset County, Maryland Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1856, 36 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Somerset County, Maryland — about one every 4.7 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 5 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 5 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1894) — 68 kt (78 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordElsa (2021) — 4.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles21 of 36
- Peak monthSeptember — 16 storms (44% of all)
- Most active year1882 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1856–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 37.7 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 11 May 2015 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 42.6 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 4.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 17 Jun 2001 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 25 Sep 1992 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Dean (1983) | 30 Sep 1983 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Bret (1981) | 1 Jul 1981 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 14 Sep 1961 | 21.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 24.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 10.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 40.5 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 13.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 25 Sep 1889 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 11 Sep 1888 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 14.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 19.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 18 Sep 1863 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 20 Aug 1856 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 16 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 | 12.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 22.4 mi | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 18.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Ernesto (2006) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2006 | 46.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 40.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | Post-tropical | 29 Sep 2004 | 25.7 mi | 27 kt |
| Charley (2004) | Post-tropical | 15 Aug 2004 | 44.0 mi | 38 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 30.4 mi | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 19.9 mi | 65 kt |
How Somerset County, Maryland compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Somerset County, Maryland ranks #396 — more exposed than 82.1% of them. Within Maryland it ranks #1 of 24, against a state average of 20.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1894) passed 40 miles away on 10 October 1894 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Irene (2011) passed 43 miles away on 28 August 2011 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1904) passed 11 miles away on 15 September 1904 as a tropical storm, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Connie (1955) passed 25 miles away on 13 August 1955 as a tropical storm, reaching 62 kt (71 mph) while within 50 miles.
33 of the 36 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 36 storms spread over the 170 years from 1856 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 39 years, between 1904 and 1943. It has been 4 years since the last one; 9 of the 33 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Somerset County, Maryland?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Somerset County, Maryland at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 36.
When was the last hurricane in Somerset County, Maryland?
Irene (2011), on 28 August 2011, passing 43 miles away — 15 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Somerset County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1894), which reached 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 40 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Somerset County, Maryland?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.7 years — 36 storms over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Somerset County, Maryland borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Accomack County, Virginia has 41 on record.