Dorchester County, Maryland
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 24019 · population 32,513 · 541 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 446 records for Dorchester County, Maryland from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 337 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (143 records). The deadliest single record is the May 8, 1984 tornado: 1 death and 6 injuries. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1972, 18 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
- 446on 337 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 218 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $30Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 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 Dorchester County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 143 since 1968. 57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 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 | 143 | 110 | 1968-2026 | 0 | 2 | $2.5M | 20 of 23 |
| Winter storms | 89 | 88 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $38K | 22 of 23 |
| Floods | 84 | 61 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | 16 of 23 |
| Hail | 39 | 24 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3K | 21 of 23 |
| Heavy rain | 35 | 26 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | 15 | 13 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 21 of 23 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 13 | 1984-2025 | 1 | 16 | $15M | 15 of 23 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 11 | 11 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | 6 of 23 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | – | 21 of 23 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 23 |
| Lightning | 4 | 3 | 2008-2020 | 0 | 0 | $292K | 21 of 23 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 20 of 23 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | 21 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 Dorchester County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Dorchester County from 1984 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 16 injuries 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Dorchester County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-05-08 16:05, as SPC files it | BridgevilleCrossed DE, MD | F1 | 18 mi | 1 |
| 2002-04-28 17:55, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 18 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Maryland.
Every tornado record filed for Dorchester County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-16 | Rhodesdale, Dorchester County | EF1 7 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2021-09-01 | Elwood, Dorchester County | EF0 3.82 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $38K |
| 2019-04-15 | Finchville, Dorchester County | EF0 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $17K |
| 2009-07-24 | Elliott, Dorchester County | EF0 0.26 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 2 | $14K |
| 2004-10-16 | Cambridge, Dorchester County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2004-09-30 | Honga, Dorchester County | F0 0.8 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-10-14 | Cambridge, Dorchester County | F1 4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $802K |
| 2003-09-02 | Church Creek, Dorchester County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-04-28 | Taylors Is, Dorchester County | F3 18 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $246K |
| 2001-07-04 | Madison, Dorchester County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 1996-07-13 | Madison, Dorchester County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $75K |
| 1992-08-28 | Dorchester County | F0 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1984-05-08 | Dorchester County | F1 12 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 6 | $2.5M step |
| 1984-05-08 | Dorchester County | F1 12 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 8 | $2.5M 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 Dorchester County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindCabin Creek, Dorchester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindHurlock, Dorchester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindSecretary, Dorchester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindCambridge Airport, Dorchester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindLinkwood, Dorchester County | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-22 | Heavy SnowDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | BlizzardDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-29 | Coastal FloodDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-18 | Coastal FloodDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-12 | Coastal FloodDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-05-08 | TornadoDorchester County | F1 12 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 6 | $2.5M step |
| 2002-07-20 | HeatDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester High temperatures reached the lower 90s. Heat related death of a man, found inside residence where the temperature was 100 degrees. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1984-05-08 | TornadoDorchester County | F1 12 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 8 | $2.5M step |
| 2009-07-24 | TornadoElliott, Dorchester County An apparent waterspout moved on shore. The tornado then overturned a 24 foot travel trailer 3 times at the extreme west end of Elliott Island. There was also some damage to trees and other vegetation. Winds were estimated at the high end of an EF0. | EF0 0.26 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 2 | $14K |
| 2001-07-05 | Thunderstorm WindCambridge, Dorchester County Tree down on a car. | 0 | 1 | $5K | |
| 1990-07-05 | Thunderstorm WindDorchester County | 0 | 1 | – |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-09-18 | Tropical StormDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | $2.2M | |
| 2012-02-24 | Thunderstorm WindCambridge, Dorchester County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2021-10-28 | Coastal FloodDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2012-10-29 | Coastal FloodDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | $964K | |
| 2003-10-14 | TornadoCambridge, Dorchester County | F1 4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $802K |
| 2011-08-27 | Tropical StormDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | $787K | |
| 2000-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindCambridge, Dorchester County | 0 | 0 | $514K | |
| 2012-12-21 | Coastal FloodDorchester County · forecast zone Dorchester | 0 | 0 | $257K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 8, 1984 (tornado, Dorchester County, 1 killed); May 8, 1984 (tornado, Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 28 | 44 | 40 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 32 | 34 | 14 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 19 | 55 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 14 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 43 · Feb 42 · Mar 30 · Apr 22 · May 47 · Jun 54 · Jul 83 · Aug 36 · Sep 28 · Oct 32 · Nov 8 · Dec 21 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Dorchester County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Dorchester County: 13 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and snowstorm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3634 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021-02-04 | DR-4583 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4491 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3430 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2002-05-01 | DR-1409 | Tornado | Tornado |
| 2000-04-10 | DR-1324 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 Dorchester County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 84 flood or flash flood records for Dorchester County from 1996 to 2025, on 61 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Dorchester County ranks 301st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Isaias | 2020-08-04 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Sandy | 2012-10-29 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-18 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $21.7 million on 1,142 claims filed in Dorchester County; the most in one year was 706 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 8 · 1983: 1 · 1985: 19 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 6 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 71 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 8 · 2001: 1 · 2003: 706 · 2004: 8 · 2005: 3 · 2006: 9 · 2008: 4 · 2010: 5 · 2011: 25 · 2012: 27 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 17 · 2020: 8 · 2021: 120 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 52 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 1; 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 Dorchester County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dorchester County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively High | $5.8M | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $3.5M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $887K | 3.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $517K | once in about 286 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $587K | 4.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $62K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $48K | 5.9 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $687K | 1.1 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 Dorchester 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 Dorchester CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Dorchester County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis