Caroline County, Maryland
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 24011 · population 33,293 · 319 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 747 records for Caroline County, Maryland from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 631 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (166 records). 479 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the July 4, 2012 heat, filed for the forecast zone Caroline, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1972, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 747on 631 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 313 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $19Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Caroline County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 166 since 1956. 55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Maryland's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 166 | 111 | 1956-2026 | 1 | 1 | $543K | 17 of 23 |
| Winter storms | 141 | 140 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $321K | 11 of 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | 109 | 109 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 0 | $480K | 3 of 23 |
| Heat | 80 | 80 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 9 | – | 4 of 23 |
| Drought | 60 | 60 | 1997-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 23 |
| Heavy rain | 53 | 48 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 23 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 36 | 34 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 23 |
| Floods | 34 | 29 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $15M | 21 of 23 |
| Extreme cold | 26 | 26 | 1996-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 23 |
| Hail | 16 | 14 | 1991-2025 | 0 | 0 | $102K | 22 of 23 |
| Lightning | 8 | 8 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 1 | $91K | 13 of 23 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 8 | 1952-2026 | 0 | 1 | $636K | 14 of 23 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 6 | 5 | 2003-2020 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 10 of 23 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 2 | 2 | 2008-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 23 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2002-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 23 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Caroline County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Caroline County from 1952 to 2026, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 8 tornadoes whose track touched Caroline County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Maryland.
Every tornado record filed for Caroline County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Downes, Caroline County | EF1 0.9 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-11-30 | Baltimore Corner, Caroline County | EF0 5.32 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-13 | Baltimore Corner, Caroline County | EF0 4.85 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-04 | Bethlehem, Caroline County | EF0 2.24 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $411K |
| 1992-07-31 | Caroline County | F1 1 mi x 183 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1990-07-14 | Caroline County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1978-04-18 | Caroline County | F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1952-04-05 | Caroline County | F0 0.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Caroline County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 12, 2022 thunderstorm wind (1 death and 1 injury).
Photo of a camper significantly damaged by a fallen tree and the Martinak State Park Campground. This resulted in one injury to an occupant. Time estimated from radar. This was near the beginning of a macroburst which continued for about 18 miles east into Delaware with estimated peak winds of 110 mph.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1038373)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindFederalsburg, Caroline County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindHillsboro, Caroline County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-10 | Dense FogCaroline County · forecast zone Caroline | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindGreensboro, Caroline County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindGreensboro, Caroline County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindGreensboro, Caroline County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindPreston, Caroline County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindRidgeley Pelican Arp, Caroline County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindRidgely, Caroline County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindHillsboro, Caroline County | 75 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | TornadoDownes, Caroline County | EF1 0.9 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter StormCaroline County · forecast zone Caroline | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-07-04 | HeatCaroline County · forecast zone Caroline The combination of continued heat and more humidity returned to the Eastern Shore starting on Independence Day and lasted until the 7th in the northern half of the Eastern Shore and the 8th in the southern half of the Eastern Shore. High temperatures on the 3rd and 4th were mainly in the mid 90s, but the air mass was ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-07-12 | Thunderstorm WindDenton, Caroline County Photo of a camper significantly damaged by a fallen tree and the Martinak State Park Campground. This resulted in one injury to an occupant. Time estimated from radar. This was near the beginning of a macroburst which continued for about 18 miles east into Delaware with estimated peak winds of 110 mph. | 61 kt wind | 1 | 1 | – |
| 1999-06-07 | HeatCaroline County · forecast zone Caroline A large high pressure system over the southeastern United States pumped in a hot and humid air mass across the Delmarva Peninsula for three days. The hottest day was the 8th. A weak trough brought in slightly cooler and considerably drier air on the 9th, although high temperatures still reached around 90 degrees. A ... | 0 | 5 | – | |
| 1999-07-23 | HeatCaroline County · forecast zone Caroline A protracted run of days with consecutive high temperatures of 90 degrees or higher started along the Eastern Shore on July 23rd. It lasted as long as 16 days in some areas through August 7th. Dispersed within this run were two periods of both excessive heat and humidity: from July 23rd through July 25th and again ... | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2011-06-09 | HeatCaroline County · forecast zone Caroline Unseasonably hot weather for early June culminated on the 9th with many high temperatures near 100 degrees and afternoon heat indices of around 105F. While high temperatures were nearly the same on the 8th, humidity levels were higher on the 9th. A fifth grade boy was flown to Baltimore after he became ill on a field ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2008-06-04 | TornadoBethlehem, Caroline County An EF0 tornado touched down west of Preston and moved through the city before lifting. The tornado was part of a squall line that moved through the area during the afternoon of the 4th. The combination of the squall line and the tornado caused about $500,000 in damage to about 30 homes and businesses in and around ... | EF0 2.24 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $411K |
| 1999-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Caroline County Hurricane Floyd battered the Maryland Eastern Shore on September 16th and brought with it torrential rains and damaging winds. The hurricane caused widespread flash flooding as storm totals averaged around ten inches, most of which fell in a twelve hour period from the early morning through the afternoon on the 16th. ... | 0 | 1 | $5.8M | |
| 1996-01-19 | LightningDenton, Caroline County A person was struck and injured by lightning in Denton. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-06-25 | Flash FloodSouth Portion, Caroline County | 0 | 0 | $7.3M | |
| 1999-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Caroline County | 0 | 1 | $5.8M | |
| 2003-09-19 | Storm Surge/TideCaroline County · forecast zone Caroline | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2012-10-29 | FloodChoptank, Caroline County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2008-06-04 | TornadoBethlehem, Caroline County | EF0 2.24 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $411K |
| 2011-08-28 | FloodDessard, Caroline County | 0 | 0 | $328K | |
| 2003-02-16 | Winter StormCaroline County · forecast zone Caroline | 0 | 0 | $321K | |
| 2008-06-04 | Thunderstorm WindPreston, Caroline County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $274K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 18, 1978 (tornado, Caroline County); July 14, 1990 (tornado, Caroline County); July 31, 1992 (tornado, Caroline County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Caroline County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 40 | 39 | 67 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 54 | 53 | 22 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 62 | 33 | 0 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 25 | 31 | 19 | 5 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 19 | 31 | 10 | 0 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 25 | 19 | 7 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 106 · Feb 103 · Mar 65 · Apr 33 · May 49 · Jun 72 · Jul 99 · Aug 64 · Sep 37 · Oct 30 · Nov 26 · Dec 63 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Caroline County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Caroline County: 14 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for snowstorm (7) and hurricane (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3634 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4491 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3430 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-03-04 | DR-4261 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2012-11-20 | DR-4091 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3349 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-16 | DR-4034 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-27 | EM-3335 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010-05-06 | DR-1910 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| 2010-02-19 | DR-1875 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2006-07-02 | DR-1652 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3251 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-19 | DR-1492 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 2003-03-14 | EM-3179 | Severe Storm | Snow |
| 2000-04-10 | DR-1324 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1999-09-24 | DR-1303 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1996-01-11 | DR-1081 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1994-03-16 | DR-1016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Weather and Ice Storms |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3100 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1977-01-26 | DR-524 | Snowstorm | Ice Conditions |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-341 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Caroline County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 34 flood or flash flood records for Caroline County from 1996 to 2025, on 29 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Caroline County ranks 1437th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Sandy | 2012-10-29 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-28 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-19 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.4 million on 77 claims filed in Caroline County; the most in one year was 25 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 8 · 1980: 1 · 1999: 7 · 2001: 3 · 2003: 10 · 2006: 12 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 25 · 2012: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 3; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Caroline County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Caroline County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.5 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively High | $1.7M | 4.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $4.8M | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $765K | 4.1 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $90K | 7.5 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $97K | once in about 901 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $459K | 5.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | $198K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $787K | about once a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Caroline County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in MarylandEvery Maryland tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in MarylandThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Maryland recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Caroline CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Caroline County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis