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| Hurricanes and Maryland |
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 Sept. 6. An
official 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 devastation. A benchmark storm for generations.
1769 The Great Chesapeake Bay Hurricane. One of the state's most destructive weather events. On Sept.
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 Sept. 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.
1821 The Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane tracked over the Maryland shore on Sept. 3. It produced
hurricane-force winds along the coast and a destructive storm wave that inundated the barrier island where
Ocean City is now located. Heavy rain inland west to the Washington-Baltimore area.
1876 The Centennial Gale on Sept. 16-17 caused the highest tides in generations throughout the
Chesapeake Bay region and damaging winds throughout the eastern half of Maryland. It also caused
considerable crop damage and uprooted trees. (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-force gusts, especially on the bay. Considerable crop and structural damage. The steamer Express
sank near Point Lookout. Loss of 16 lives in one of the bay's deadliest disasters.
1888 A long-tracked tornado touched down north of Washington, D.C., on August 21 and swept northeast to
the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore. Bowie, Millersville and Jacobsville along its path. The twister killed 11
people in Kent County. Spawn of a hurricane then tracking through Pennsylvania.
1889 One of the state's most destructive coastal storms. A hurricane stalled and dissipated off the coast
from Sept. 8-12. Severe flooding in Ocean City. The sea inundated the island.
1896 A hurricane raced through central Maryland on Sept. 29. It ranks as one of the state's most destructive
windstorms. Hurricane-force gusts along a 50-mile east-west band struck the Washington, D.C., area and
passed through Frederick en route to Pennsylvania. Much moderate to extreme property damage. "The
abomination of desolation was on every side," according to an account from Sandy Spring, Md. Countless trees
uprooted. A church was nearly destroyed in Rockville by the savage winds.
1903 One of Ocean City's notable hurricanes. The storm stalled and dissipated off the coast from Oct. 8-11,
swamping the nascent resort.
1915 A tropical storm tracked through central Maryland on Aug. 3. In Annapolis, it was the worst storm in
years. The city sustained wind damage and flooding.
1928 Remnant tropical cyclones on Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 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 in downtown Washington
on Aug. 11-12. A total of 12.76 inches of rain in 30 hours in nearby Cheltenham on Aug. 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. Peak gusts of 50 to 70 mph in eastern half of the
state. Widespread 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 Sept. 4-6. A total of
16.63 inches of rain reported in Easton. 12.10 inches of rain in Salisbury. Severe flooding in Federalsburg led
to the displacement of nearly half the population of 2,000. One of the central Eastern Shore's most destructive
natural disasters.
1944 The Great Atlantic Hurricane passed about 50 miles off the coast on Sept. 14 bringing hurricane-force
winds to Ocean City. Much damage to the boardwalk. Heavy rain 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 commonplace throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and on the Eastern
Shore. Severe flooding along the bay and its tidal tributaries. Flash flooding in western Maryland where 3-6
inches of rain fell. Generally, less than 2 inches of rain in the eastern half of the state.
1955 Hurricanes Connie and Diane on Aug. 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 wrought one of the
state's most destructive natural disasters. Many dams menaced. Many roads closed, particularly in central
Maryland. Thousands of evacuations. An ecological calamity for the Chesapeake Bay.
1975 The remnants of Hurricane Eloise pelted the state from Sept. 23-26. Heavy flooding throughout
central Maryland.
1979 Hurricane David produced a tornado outbreak on Sept. 5-6. Gales throughout central Maryland. The
Baltimore metropolitan area experienced disastrous flash flooding.
1985 Hurricane Gloria tracked about 50 miles offshore on Sept. 27. Extensive damage to the Ocean City
boardwalk. Several inches of rain fell on the eastern half of Maryland. An offshoot to Hurricane Juan caused
severe flooding in western Maryland (rainfall) and along the Chesapeake Bay (high tides) on Nov. 4-5.
1996 Hurricane Fran brought gales and heavy rain to the state on Sept. 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 in western Maryland. Massive power outages throughout Maryland.
1999 Hurricane Floyd dumped more than 10 inches of rain on the Eastern Shore and along the
Chesapeake Bay on Sept. 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.
2003 Hurricane Isabel tracked through the state on Sept. 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 in the Chesapeake region. Record power outages. A huge loss of trees.
2004 Hurricanes Frances (Sept. 8), Ivan (Sept 17) and Jeanne (Sept. 28) brought tornado outbreaks and
flooding, particularly to central and western Maryland.
1667 The "Year of the Hurricane." A severe storm tracked through the Chesapeake region on Sept. 6. An
official 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 devastation. A benchmark storm for generations.
1769 The Great Chesapeake Bay Hurricane. One of the state's most destructive weather events. On Sept.
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 Sept. 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.
1821 The Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane tracked over the Maryland shore on Sept. 3. It produced
hurricane-force winds along the coast and a destructive storm wave that inundated the barrier island where
Ocean City is now located. Heavy rain inland west to the Washington-Baltimore area.
1876 The Centennial Gale on Sept. 16-17 caused the highest tides in generations throughout the
Chesapeake Bay region and damaging winds throughout the eastern half of Maryland. It also caused
considerable crop damage and uprooted trees. (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-force gusts, especially on the bay. Considerable crop and structural damage. The steamer Express
sank near Point Lookout. Loss of 16 lives in one of the bay's deadliest disasters.
1888 A long-tracked tornado touched down north of Washington, D.C., on August 21 and swept northeast to
the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore. Bowie, Millersville and Jacobsville along its path. The twister killed 11
people in Kent County. Spawn of a hurricane then tracking through Pennsylvania.
1889 One of the state's most destructive coastal storms. A hurricane stalled and dissipated off the coast
from Sept. 8-12. Severe flooding in Ocean City. The sea inundated the island.
1896 A hurricane raced through central Maryland on Sept. 29. It ranks as one of the state's most destructive
windstorms. Hurricane-force gusts along a 50-mile east-west band struck the Washington, D.C., area and
passed through Frederick en route to Pennsylvania. Much moderate to extreme property damage. "The
abomination of desolation was on every side," according to an account from Sandy Spring, Md. Countless trees
uprooted. A church was nearly destroyed in Rockville by the savage winds.
1903 One of Ocean City's notable hurricanes. The storm stalled and dissipated off the coast from Oct. 8-11,
swamping the nascent resort.
1915 A tropical storm tracked through central Maryland on Aug. 3. In Annapolis, it was the worst storm in
years. The city sustained wind damage and flooding.
1928 Remnant tropical cyclones on Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 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 in downtown Washington
on Aug. 11-12. A total of 12.76 inches of rain in 30 hours in nearby Cheltenham on Aug. 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. Peak gusts of 50 to 70 mph in eastern half of the
state. Widespread 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 Sept. 4-6. A total of
16.63 inches of rain reported in Easton. 12.10 inches of rain in Salisbury. Severe flooding in Federalsburg led
to the displacement of nearly half the population of 2,000. One of the central Eastern Shore's most destructive
natural disasters.
1944 The Great Atlantic Hurricane passed about 50 miles off the coast on Sept. 14 bringing hurricane-force
winds to Ocean City. Much damage to the boardwalk. Heavy rain 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 commonplace throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and on the Eastern
Shore. Severe flooding along the bay and its tidal tributaries. Flash flooding in western Maryland where 3-6
inches of rain fell. Generally, less than 2 inches of rain in the eastern half of the state.
1955 Hurricanes Connie and Diane on Aug. 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 wrought one of the
state's most destructive natural disasters. Many dams menaced. Many roads closed, particularly in central
Maryland. Thousands of evacuations. An ecological calamity for the Chesapeake Bay.
1975 The remnants of Hurricane Eloise pelted the state from Sept. 23-26. Heavy flooding throughout
central Maryland.
1979 Hurricane David produced a tornado outbreak on Sept. 5-6. Gales throughout central Maryland. The
Baltimore metropolitan area experienced disastrous flash flooding.
1985 Hurricane Gloria tracked about 50 miles offshore on Sept. 27. Extensive damage to the Ocean City
boardwalk. Several inches of rain fell on the eastern half of Maryland. An offshoot to Hurricane Juan caused
severe flooding in western Maryland (rainfall) and along the Chesapeake Bay (high tides) on Nov. 4-5.
1996 Hurricane Fran brought gales and heavy rain to the state on Sept. 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 in western Maryland. Massive power outages throughout Maryland.
1999 Hurricane Floyd dumped more than 10 inches of rain on the Eastern Shore and along the
Chesapeake Bay on Sept. 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.
2003 Hurricane Isabel tracked through the state on Sept. 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 in the Chesapeake region. Record power outages. A huge loss of trees.
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 Information about West Virginia weather: www.wvweather.net |
| To learn more, order the book Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States. Send a check or money order for $25.95, postpaid. (Internet special-- The regular price is $32.95.) Virginia residents add $1.00 sales tax. 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 (see Home Page). |
| A hurricane in 1775 destroyed the previous Maryland State House roof. Today's striking hurricane-resistant dome is a result of the architectural change that followed. |
| Maryland Weather Links |