Garrett County, Maryland
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 24023 · population 28,794 · 649 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 754 records for Garrett County, Maryland from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 580 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (333 records). 426 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 May 19, 1967 tornado: 1 death. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1993, 12 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
- 754on 580 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 128 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $19Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 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 Garrett County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 333 since 1996. 53% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 333 | 311 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 15 | $537K | 9 of 23 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 175 | 115 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | 22 of 23 |
| Floods | 92 | 60 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $6.3M | 20 of 23 |
| Hail | 48 | 34 | 1986-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 23 |
| Extreme cold | 47 | 40 | 2009-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | 36 | 35 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $610K | 18 of 23 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 10 | 1954-2024 | 1 | 12 | $8.2M | 21 of 23 |
| Lightning | 4 | 3 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 1 | $21K | 22 of 23 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2003-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 23 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 23 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 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 Garrett County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Garrett County from 1954 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 12 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Garrett County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-05-19 18:15, as SPC files it | Loch Lynn Heights | F3 | 0.3 mi | 1 |
| 1998-06-02 19:02, as SPC files it | MeyersdaleCrossed MD, PA | F4 | 36.5 mi | 0 |
| 1980-06-03 13:30, as SPC files it | KingwoodCrossed MD, WV | F3 | 29.8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Maryland.
Every tornado record filed for Garrett County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-11 | Selbeysport, Garrett County | EF1 3.11 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $941K |
| 2024-05-11 | Asher Glade, Garrett County | EF1 3.05 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $470K |
| 2008-07-30 | Sand Spg, Garrett County | EF0 4.21 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $685K |
| 2001-07-10 | Grantsville, Garrett County | F0 4 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1998-06-02 | Finzel, Garrett County | F2 2.5 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $905K |
| 1998-06-02 | Friendsville, Garrett County | F2 3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 1980-06-03 | Garrett County | F3 5.6 mi x 117 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K step |
| 1977-06-20 | Garrett County | F2 1.9 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-06-28 | Garrett County | F1 3.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1971-07-13 | Garrett County | F1 14.9 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1967-05-19 | Garrett County | F3 0.3 mi x 33 yd | 1 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1954-07-14 | Garrett County | F1 12 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 8 | $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 Garrett County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMtn Lake Park, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindGortner, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindGorman, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindSelbeysport, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindMtn Lake Park, Garrett County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindGortner, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindBittinger, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindNeeler Glade, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindDeer Park, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-04-01 | Thunderstorm WindSang Run, Garrett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherGarrett County · forecast zone Eastern Garrett County Md | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherGarrett County · forecast zone Western Garrett County Md | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-05-19 | TornadoGarrett County | F3 0.3 mi x 33 yd | 1 | 0 | $25K step |
| 2019-12-01 | Ice StormGarrett County · forecast zone Garrett Garrett County Emergency Management reported over a quarter inch of ice accretion on trees, with ice still accumulating as of the report at 12:15 PM. The EM also reported that the freezing rain and fog were contributing factors to 29 separate collisions involving 58 cars. The crashes backed up traffic for 5 to 6 ... | 0 | 10 | – | |
| 1954-07-14 | TornadoGarrett County | F1 12 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 8 | $25K step |
| 2019-12-13 | Winter WeatherGarrett County · forecast zone Garrett Multiple traffic accidents were reported across the county due to freezing rain. Five injuries were reported. Icing was generally limited to a light glaze. | 0 | 5 | – | |
| 1980-06-03 | TornadoGarrett County | F3 5.6 mi x 117 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K step |
| 1996-06-24 | LightningMc Henry, Garrett County A man was struck by lightning and injured at Deep Creek Lake. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodOakland, Garrett County | 0 | 0 | $5.6M | |
| 1998-06-02 | TornadoFriendsville, Garrett County | F2 3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 2025-04-19 | Thunderstorm WindFriendsville, Garrett County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2024-05-11 | TornadoSelbeysport, Garrett County | EF1 3.11 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $941K |
| 1998-06-02 | TornadoFinzel, Garrett County | F2 2.5 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $905K |
| 2008-07-30 | TornadoSand Spg, Garrett County | EF0 4.21 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $685K |
| 2025-04-19 | Thunderstorm WindKeysers Ridge, Garrett County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| 2024-05-11 | TornadoAsher Glade, Garrett County | EF1 3.05 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $470K |
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: June 3, 1980 (tornado, Garrett County); July 13, 1971 (tornado, Garrett 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 Garrett 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 21 | 75 | 88 | 149 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 31 | 39 | 76 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 13 | 34 | 22 | 23 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 15 | 30 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 19 | 7 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 126 · Feb 103 · Mar 76 · Apr 33 · May 57 · Jun 74 · Jul 67 · Aug 45 · Sep 27 · Oct 9 · Nov 38 · Dec 99 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Garrett County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Garrett County: 8 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (5) and snowstorm (4).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3100 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
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 Garrett County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 92 flood or flash flood records for Garrett County from 1996 to 2025, on 60 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Garrett County ranks 1261st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.1 million on 110 claims filed in Garrett County; the most in one year was 47 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 4 · 1979: 2 · 1981: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 12 · 1994: 14 · 1996: 47 · 2000: 9 · 2001: 1 · 2003: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 3 · 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 Garrett County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Garrett County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.8 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 Moderate | $98K | 29 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $11K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $292K | once in about 43 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $212K | 3.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $228K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $147K | 41 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $282K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $386K | 5.4 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 Garrett 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
- Winter storms in MarylandThe state's winter storm records, 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 Garrett CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Garrett County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis