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| Hurricanes and Maryland |
- Maryland is at risk for high winds, coastal flooding, rainfall flooding and tornadoes.
During the past century, all sections in the eastern half of the state have experienced
hurricane force gusts, if not sustained hurricane strength winds. Hurricane Gloria in 1985
was the last tropical cyclone to bring significant coastal flooding. Other high wind events
of the past hundred years occurred in 1933, 1936, 1944, 1954, 1955, 1960 and 2003.
Hurricane Floyd in 1999 deluged the Eastern Shore and is among the periodic tropical
cyclones that have generated double-digit rainfall. Many tropical systems have spun off
tornadoes.
The following are some of Maryland's significant tropical cyclones:
- 1667 The "Year of the Hurricane." A severe storm tracked through the Chesapeake
region on September 6. A government report noted, "A mighty wind on (Sept. 6)
destroyed four-fifths of (our) tobacco and corn and blew down in two hours fifteen
thousand houses in Virginia and Maryland." Several separate accounts of the storm
describe the huge, almost universal, devastation. A benchmark storm for generations.
1769 The Great Chesapeake Bay Hurricane. One of the state's most destructive
weather events. On September 7-8, it caused tremendous agricultural and shipping
losses in the Chesapeake Bay region. Winds were likely of hurricane force on the lower
two-thirds of the bay.
1775 A hurricane on September 2-3, claimed the State House roof in Annapolis.
Today's dome, featured on the reverse of the Maryland state quarter, is its replacement.
The storm caused huge agricultural losses at a time when agriculture powered the local
economy.
1876 The Centennial Gale on September 16-17 stirred the highest tides in
generations throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. Damaging winds throughout the
eastern half of Maryland caused considerable crop losses and uprooted numerous trees.
(The Centennial Gale was similar in power and scope to Hurricane Isabel in 2003.)
1878 The Great October Gale on the 23rd played havoc with the Chesapeake Bay
region. Isolated hurricane gusts, especially near the bay. The storm caused considerable
crop and various structural damage in eastern Maryland. The steamer Express capsized
near Point Lookout, with the loss of 16 lives in one of the bay's deadliest disasters.
1889 One of the state's most destructive coastal storms. A hurricane stalled and
dissipated off the coast from September 8-12. Severe flooding inundated Ocean City.
The sea covered many barrier islands from Virginia through New Jersey.
1896 A hurricane raced through central Maryland on September 29. It ranks as one
of the state's historic windstorms. Hurricane force winds along a 50-mile east to west
band slammed the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas. The storm caused moderate
to extreme property damage. A sustained wind of 81 mph was recorded in Washington, D.
C., with gusts of about 100 mph. The weather office recorded a five minute average wind
speed of 68 mph.
1903 One of Ocean City's notable hurricanes. The storm stalled and dissipated off
the coast from October 8-11, swamping the nascent resort.
1928 Remnant tropical cyclones on August 11-12 and August 16-17 deluged central
sections of the state. More than a foot of rain fell in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. A
total of 8.67 inches of rain fell in downtown Washington on August 11-12. A total of 12.76
inches of rain in 30 hours bucketed nearby Cheltenham on August 11-12.
1933 The Chesapeake and Potomac Hurricane made landfall in North Carolina on
August 23 before tracking through Virginia and central Maryland. Pounding surf carved
the Ocean City Inlet, on the southern edge of town. Many hours of gales occurred
throughout Maryland. Sections near the bay experienced flooding from torrential rain.
Baltimore picked up 7.62 inches of rain on August 23, its wettest day on record.
1935 The remnants of the Great Labor Day Hurricane deluged the Eastern Shore
from September 4-6. A total of 16.63 inches of rain reported in Easton. 12.10 inches fell
in Salisbury. Severe flooding in Federalsburg led to the displacement of nearly half the
population of 2,000. The storm is among Maryland's historic flood disasters.
1944 The Great Atlantic Hurricane passed about 50 miles off the coast on
September 14 bringing hurricane strength winds to Ocean City. The boardwalk was
heavily damaged. Heavy rain fell throughout the state.
1954 Hurricane Hazel on October 15. Hurricane-force gusts swept the eastern half
of Maryland. Heavy rains pounded the west. Washington National Airport reported a
record sustained wind of 78 mph; a gust of 98 mph. Gusts near 100 mph were common
throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and on the Eastern Shore. Severe flooding
occurred along the bay and its tidal tributaries. Flash flooding plagued western Maryland,
where 3-6 inches of rain fell. Generally, less than 2 inches of rain fell in the eastern half
of the state.
1955 Hurricanes Connie and Diane on August 12 and 18, respectively. Strong gales
from Connie sunk the tour schooner Levin J. Marvel, about 20 miles south of its home
port of Annapolis. Fourteen passengers drowned. Combined heavy rain from Connie and
Diane caused major flooding in central Maryland, particularly along the Potomac River.
1972 Hurricane Agnes on June 21-23. Widespread and in some places record
flooding made this one of the state's most destructive natural disasters. Many dams were
menaced. Thousands of evacuations, primarily in central Maryland. The run-off from
tributaries caused an ecological calamity in the Chesapeake Bay.
1975 The remnants of Hurricane Eloise combined with other weather systems to pelt
the state from September 23-26. Widespread flooding plagued central Maryland.
1979 Hurricane David produced a tornado outbreak on September 5-6. Gusts of 45
to 60 mph, swept central Maryland. The Baltimore metropolitan area experienced
disastrous flash flooding.
1985 Hurricane Gloria tracked about 50 miles offshore on September 27 and caused
extensive damage to the Ocean City boardwalk. Several inches of rain fell on the eastern
half of Maryland. Gloria brought gusts of 80 to 90 mph to the coast.
1996 Hurricane Fran lashed the state with gales and heavy rain on September 5. A
track west of the Chesapeake Bay and lengthy strong winds, gusting 40 to 60 mph,
caused severe flooding along the bay and lower Potomac River. Also, flooding from
torrential rain resulted in significant losses in western Maryland.
1999 Hurricane Floyd dumped more than 10 inches of rain on the Eastern Shore
and along the Chesapeake Bay on September 16-17. Chestertown collected 14.00
inches. Annapolis had 11.60 inches. Floyd's eye passed over Ocean City, with a
barometric pressure of 28.88 inches. Gusts in Ocean City peaked at about 60 mph.
2003 Hurricane Isabel tracked through the state on September 18, bringing
widespread gales. More than nine hours of high winds created extreme flooding along the
Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. Isolated gusts near hurricane force blasted the
Chesapeake region. Record power outages plagued the state.
2004 Hurricanes Frances (Sept. 8), Ivan (Sept 17) and Jeanne (Sept. 28) brought
tornado outbreaks and flooding, particularly to central and western Maryland.
Office of the state climatologist: www.atmos.umd.edu/weather.html Unisys offers maps of hurricane tracks beginning in 1851: http://weather.unisys.com The Capital Weather Gang (Washington Post). This site features ongoing information and discussions about weather affecting the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area: www.capitalweathergang.com |
| To learn more, order the book Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States. Send a check or money order for $21.95, postpaid, for this 400-page, heavily illustrated, hardcover book. (Internet special: The regular price is $32.95.) Make checks payable to Blue Diamond Books. Mail to: 6516 China Grove Ct., Alexandria, VA 22310 Or pay by credit card through the convenience of PayPal. |
| Maryland Weather Links |
- Residents endure lengthy lines in Wheaton, Maryland, as they wait to obtain dry ice
in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area
endured record power outages in the wake of the storm. (Photograph by Rick Schwartz)
2011 Hurricane Irene caused localized flooding and widespread power outages on
August 27-28. The Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland were particularly hard hit.
From September 6-9, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee combined with other weather
elements to produce widespread flooding in central Maryland.
August 27-28. The Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland were particularly hard hit.
From September 6-9, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee combined with other weather
elements to produce widespread flooding in central Maryland.