Frederick County, Maryland
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 24021 · population 271,433 · 661 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,624 records for Frederick County, Maryland from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 962 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (629 records). The deadliest single record is the June 27, 2006 flash flood: 5 deaths, 1 injury and $732,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1971, 21 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
- 1,624on 962 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1623 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $157Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 38strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Frederick County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 629 since 1958. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 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 | 629 | 306 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 7 | $6.2M | 15 of 23 |
| Floods | 311 | 135 | 1996-2025 | 6 | 1 | $93M | 9 of 23 |
| Winter storms | 236 | 233 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $483K | 15 of 23 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 93 | 92 | 2000-2021 | 1 | 0 | $7K | 10 of 23 |
| Hail | 86 | 60 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 0 | $31K | 12 of 23 |
| Extreme cold | 65 | 63 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $206K | 11 of 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | 63 | 61 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 3 | $2.6M | 13 of 23 |
| Heat | 46 | 45 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 6 | – | 17 of 23 |
| Tornadoes | 38 | 30 | 1952-2021 | 0 | 1 | $7.2M | 8 of 23 |
| Lightning | 23 | 20 | 1996-2021 | 2 | 5 | $2.3M | 9 of 23 |
| Heavy rain | 20 | 19 | 1999-2005 | 2 | 0 | – | 19 of 23 |
| Drought | 12 | 12 | 1997-2007 | 0 | 0 | $45M | 15 of 23 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2008-2011 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 19 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 Frederick County had?
NOAA records 38 tornadoes in Frederick County from 1952 to 2021, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. That is 8th of 23 Maryland counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 38 tornadoes whose track touched Frederick County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 38, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-05-22 17:05, as SPC files it | Emmitsburg to Taneytown | F3 | 2 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Maryland.
Every tornado record filed for Frederick County (38)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-05-03 | Unionville, Frederick County | EF0 0.64 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2021-05-03 | Mt Pleasant, Frederick County | EF0 0.78 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $163K |
| 2020-02-07 | Fountain Mills, Frederick County | EF1 6.74 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $388K |
| 2019-05-30 | Reels Mill, Frederick County | EF0 6.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2015-06-20 | Tuscarora, Frederick County | EF0 1.47 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2011-05-17 | Garfield, Frederick County | EF0 1.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 2011-04-16 | Unionville, Frederick County | EF1 1.29 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 2011-04-16 | New London, Frederick County | EF1 4.36 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2011-04-16 | New London, Frederick County | EF1 1.17 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2010-08-12 | Unionville, Frederick County | EF0 0.24 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2009-07-31 | Ijamsville, Frederick County | EF1 2.6 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-07-31 | Urbana, Frederick County | EF1 2.6 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-17 | Catoctin, Frederick County | F2 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2004-09-17 | Adamstown, Frederick County | F1 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $78K |
| 2004-09-17 | Brunswick, Frederick County | F1 3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $312K |
| 2004-06-14 | Woodsboro, Frederick County | F1 4.2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2004-05-25 | Wolfsville, Frederick County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-06-06 | Frederick County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 1999-08-14 | Frederick County | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 1998-06-16 | Frederick County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 1996-07-19 | Rosemont, Frederick County | F1 2.2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $245K |
| 1996-06-04 | Mt Airy, Frederick County | F1 1 mi x 65 yd | 0 | 0 | $282K |
| 1995-10-21 | Libertytown, Frederick County | F1 1.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 1995-10-21 | Thurmont, Frederick County | F0 0.62 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 1990-05-13 | Frederick County | F1 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-05-22 | Frederick County | F3 1 mi x 37 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-05-30 | Frederick County | F1 0.2 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1978-08-28 | Frederick County | F2 14.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1978-07-31 | Frederick County | F2 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-03-03 | Frederick County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1966-06-28 | Frederick County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1966-02-13 | Frederick County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-07-19 | Frederick County | F1 14.4 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-04-16 | Frederick County | F1 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1960-11-19 | Frederick County | F1 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1954-05-03 | Frederick County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1952-04-05 | Frederick County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1952-04-05 | Frederick County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Frederick County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1.0 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
On June 15, 2026, a survey team from the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office conducted a formal storm assessment in Frederick County, Maryland. The objective of the field survey was to analyze the thunderstorm wind damage that occurred during the evening of Sunday, June 14, 2026. The event began at approximately 7:30 PM EDT, when a cluster of showers initiated in central Jefferson County, West Virginia. This convective system tracked continuously northeastward into Frederick County, Maryland, while exhibiting steady intensification. As the storm progressed east of Libertytown, Maryland, it generated a localized zone of significant structural and tree damage. The most severe impacts were concentrated within the 9000 block of Bessie Clemson Road. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1336136)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindUnionville, Frederick County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindFrederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindNew Market, Frederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindFrederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindIjamsville, Frederick County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindFrederick County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindJohnsville, Frederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindFrederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindFrederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindDoubs, Frederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindMt Ville, Frederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindSt Anthony, Frederick County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-06-27 | Flash FloodCountywide, Frederick County A mudslide closed a section of Harp Mill Road in Wolfsville. Numerous road closures and water rescues were reported countywide. The Monacacy River overflowed, flooding a parking lot and field along Monocacy Boulevard. Basement flooding occurred in Emmitsburg, Myersville and Middletown. Shank Road was closed ... | 5 | 1 | $732K | |
| 2005-07-07 | Heavy RainFrederick County According to print media reports, two people were killed in Frederick County when the vehicle they were driving struck a guardrail and overturned. This occurred when there was heavy rain in the area. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-12-23 | High WindFrederick County · forecast zone Frederick Local broadcast media relayed reports that a 55-year-old man died after a tree fell on his car near the intersection of Maryland 77 and Tower Road, near Thurmont, Maryland. The incident occurred at approximately 1200 local time. A peak gradient wind gust of 58 mph was measured by a trained spotter near Wolfsville at ... | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2021-08-11 | LightningIjamsville, Frederick County Lightning struck a house causing a fire in the 9500 block of Ball Road. The fire caused the structure to collapse, killing a firefighter who was inside. | 1 | 0 | $327K | |
| 2019-07-21 | Excessive HeatFrederick County · forecast zone Frederick Heat index values exceeded 110 degrees. A 65+ year old male died due to heat-related conditions. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-03-15 | Strong WindFrederick County · forecast zone Frederick The Herald Mail Media reported that a dead tree had fallen on a hiker due to gusty winds, resulting in his death. This occurred at the Ed Garvey Shelter, an Appalachian Trail shelter located near Brunswick, MD in Gathland State Park. The tree had been marked to be cut down. Winds in the general vicinity ranged from 35 ... | 40 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2007-12-31 | Freezing FogFrederick County · forecast zone Frederick Dense fog and freezing fog was reported by the AWOS at the Frederick Municipal Airport. Dense freezing fog and icy roadways caused numerous travel problems in Frederick County. Over 100 vehicle crashes were reported during the early and mid morning hours. The westbound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed for at least 9 ... | 1 | 0 | $7K | |
| 2003-12-05 | Winter StormFrederick County · forecast zone Frederick A second storm developed quickly on the heels of the first winter storm . This storm affected the region from the evening of the 5th through the morning of the 6th. The second storm produced another 5 to 6 inches of snow across North and Central Maryland. A medical condition rendered a Frederick, MD woman unconscious ... | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-05-15 | Flash FloodFt Detrick, Frederick County | 0 | 0 | $51M | |
| 1997-07-01 | DroughtFrederick County · forecast zone Frederick | 0 | 0 | $26M | |
| 1999-08-01 | DroughtFrederick County · forecast zone Frederick | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 1996-06-19 | Flash FloodN Portion, Frederick County | 1 | 0 | $9.4M | |
| 2012-10-29 | High WindFrederick County · forecast zone Frederick | 53 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $1.6M |
| 1999-08-14 | TornadoFrederick County | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2000-08-07 | LightningFrederick County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2018-05-15 | Flash FloodFt Detrick, Frederick County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 3, 1972 (tornado, Frederick County); May 13, 1990 (tornado, Frederick 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 Frederick 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 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 55 | 118 | 235 | 179 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 19 | 45 | 164 | 83 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 22 | 62 | 106 | 46 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 0 | 22 | 51 | 20 |
| Hail | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 26 | 31 | 9 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 21 | 33 | 9 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 128 · Feb 116 · Mar 95 · Apr 97 · May 176 · Jun 227 · Jul 234 · Aug 204 · Sep 160 · Oct 36 · Nov 42 · Dec 109 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Frederick County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Frederick County: 16 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and snowstorm (5).
| 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 |
| 2018-06-25 | DR-4374 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2011-08-27 | EM-3335 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010-05-06 | DR-1910 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| 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 |
| 1996-09-17 | DR-1139 | Hurricane | Severe Storms and Flooding Assoc With Tropical Storm Fran |
| 1996-01-23 | DR-1094 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1979-09-14 | DR-601 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976-10-14 | DR-522 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1975-10-04 | DR-489 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-341 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
| 1971-08-17 | DR-309 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
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 Frederick County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 311 flood or flash flood records for Frederick County from 1996 to 2025, on 135 days, with 6 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Frederick County ranks 798th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Fran | 1996-09-06 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.1 million on 271 claims filed in Frederick County; the most in one year was 64 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 3 · 1979: 25 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 5 · 1984: 7 · 1985: 19 · 1987: 2 · 1988: 13 · 1989: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1996: 64 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 2 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 1 · 2003: 9 · 2004: 2 · 2006: 4 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 4 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 7 · 2012: 5 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 49 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2 · 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 Frederick County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Frederick County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $49.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $645K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.2M | 37 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $3.1M | 4.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $32M | 4.7 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $2.0M | 7.7 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.1M | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $898K | 4 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.5M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Frederick 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 Frederick CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Frederick County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis