Worcester County, Maryland Hurricane History
Since 1856, 36 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Worcester County, Maryland — about one every 4.7 years. Of those, 7 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 16 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 16 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1879) — 88 kt (101 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1886) — 1.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles18 of 36
- Peak monthSeptember — 15 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year1882 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 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 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Fay (2020) | 10 Jul 2020 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 18.8 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 17 Jun 2001 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 39.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 26 Sep 1992 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 18 Aug 1986 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 40.9 mi | Cat 2 | 86 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1963) | 3 Jun 1963 | 48.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Barbara (1953) | 14 Aug 1953 | 48.5 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 39.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 1 Oct 1943 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 37.5 mi | Cat 1 | 74 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 20.0 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 25 Sep 1889 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 1.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 10 Sep 1881 | 37.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 18 Aug 1879 | 34.0 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1866) | 30 Oct 1866 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 24.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 12.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 20 Aug 1856 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 20 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 | 39.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 35.4 mi | 45 kt |
| Ana (2015) | Remnant low | 12 May 2015 | 14.2 mi | 30 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 1.5 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 43.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | Post-tropical | 29 Sep 2004 | 26.1 mi | 30 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2004 | 18.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Charley (2004) | Post-tropical | 15 Aug 2004 | 26.4 mi | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 18.5 mi | 65 kt |
How Worcester County, Maryland compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Worcester County, Maryland ranks #397 — more exposed than 82.0% of them. Within Maryland it ranks #2 of 24, against a state average of 20.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 34 miles away on 18 August 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 88 kt (101 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Gloria (1985) passed 41 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Barbara (1953) passed 48 miles away on 14 August 1953 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1903) passed 37 miles away on 16 September 1903 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
34 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. 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 39 years, between 1904 and 1943. It has been 4 years since the last one; 10 of the 34 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Worcester County, Maryland?
7 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Worcester 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 Worcester County, Maryland?
Irene (2011), on 28 August 2011, passing 19 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 Worcester County, Maryland?
Unnamed Storm (1879), which reached 88 kt (101 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 34 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Worcester 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
Worcester County, Maryland borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Accomack County, Virginia has 41 on record.