Washington County, Maryland Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1876, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Washington County, Maryland — about one every 8.8 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Dennis (1999), which passed 5 miles away on 7 September 1999.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDennis (1999) — 5 mi away, 7 September 1999
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 64 kt (74 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDennis (1999) — 4.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 17
- Peak monthAugust — 8 storms (47% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1890s, 1930s and 1950s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1876–1999
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis (1999) | 7 Sep 1999 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| David (1979) | 6 Sep 1979 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 4 Jun 1963 | 38.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Connie (1955) | 13 Aug 1955 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 20.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 4 Sep 1934 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 24 Aug 1933 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 14 Oct 1893 | 19.6 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 21 Aug 1888 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1883) | 13 Sep 1883 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 18 Sep 1876 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 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 | 27.7 mi | 32 kt |
| Sandy (2012) | Post-tropical | 30 Oct 2012 | 34.3 mi | 50 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 30.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | Post-tropical | 15 Oct 1954 | 24.1 mi | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 38.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 1928 | 11.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1896 | 37.2 mi | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1885 | 7.2 mi | 40 kt |
How Washington County, Maryland compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Washington County, Maryland ranks #907 — more exposed than 58.9% of them. Within Maryland it ranks #20 of 24, against a state average of 20.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed (October 1893) passed 20 miles away on 14 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 64 kt (74 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1876) passed 9 miles away on 18 September 1876 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed (August 1893) passed 44 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 38 miles away on 24 August 1933 as a tropical storm, reaching 51 kt (59 mph) while within 50 miles.
16 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 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 40 years, between 1893 and 1933. It has been 26 years since the last one; 1 of the 13 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Washington County, Maryland?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Washington County, Maryland at hurricane strength since 1876. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 17.
When was the last hurricane in Washington County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1893), on 14 October 1893, passing 20 miles away — 133 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Dennis (1999) in 1999.
What was the strongest storm to affect Washington County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 64 kt (74 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 20 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Washington County, Maryland?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.8 years — 17 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
Washington County, Maryland borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Frederick County, Maryland has 19 on record.