Washington County, Maryland
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 24043 · population 154,643 · 458 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,139 records for Washington County, Maryland from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 772 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (411 records). The most damaging was the January 19, 1996 flood ($28.2 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1972, 15 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
- 1,139on 772 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 08 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $89Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 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 Washington County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 411 since 1956. 47% 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 | 411 | 224 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 2 | $4.4M | 14 of 23 |
| Winter storms | 216 | 211 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $74K | 10 of 23 |
| Floods | 118 | 61 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $39M | 13 of 23 |
| Hail | 113 | 66 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $33K | 5 of 23 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 76 | 74 | 2005-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 23 |
| Extreme cold | 62 | 61 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 4 of 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | 47 | 47 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 10 of 23 |
| Heat | 46 | 46 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 4 | – | 14 of 23 |
| Heavy rain | 16 | 16 | 1999-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 23 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 11 | 1961-2024 | 0 | 1 | $3.1M | 16 of 23 |
| Drought | 12 | 12 | 1997-2007 | 0 | 0 | $38M | 11 of 23 |
| Lightning | 6 | 6 | 1999-2007 | 0 | 1 | $230K | 18 of 23 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 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 Washington County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Washington County from 1961 to 2024, the strongest rated F2, 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 15 tornadoes whose track touched Washington County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Maryland.
Every tornado record filed for Washington County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-05 | Boonsboro, Washington County | EF0 0.59 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-05-17 | Maugansville, Washington County | EF1 2.11 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $394K |
| 2004-09-17 | Hancock, Washington County | F0 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2004-09-17 | Boonsboro, Washington County | F0 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $187K |
| 2004-05-25 | Leitersburg, Washington County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $391K |
| 1999-08-26 | Boonsboro, Washington County | F1 1.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $133K |
| 1998-06-19 | Hagerstown, Washington County | F0 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 1998-06-16 | Maugansville, Washington County | F1 2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $54K |
| 1998-06-16 | Halfway, Washington County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $362K |
| 1998-06-16 | Halfway, Washington County | F1 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $362K |
| 1997-06-18 | Hancock, Washington County | F0 2 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 1996-07-19 | Yarrowsburg, Washington County | F2 2 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $894K |
| 1996-07-19 | Ringgold, Washington County | F0 2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 1979-09-05 | Washington County | F0 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1961-07-24 | Washington County | F1 | 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 Washington County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 15, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-15 | Thunderstorm WindMc Coys, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindDry Run, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindIndian Spgs, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindClear Spg, Washington County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindPecktonville, Washington County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMaugansville, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMaugansville, Washington County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindWilliamsport, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindHagerstown Regional, Washington County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindHagerstown, Washington County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindHagerstown, Washington County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindFountain Head, Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-07-04 | HeatWashington County · forecast zone Washington High pressure sat off the Mid-Atlantic coast from the 4th through the 7th, acting like a heat pump drawing in extremely warm and humid air. Temperatures on the 4th through early on the 7th were oppressively hot, and extremely humid conditions added to the misery. These conditions continued until a cold front swept ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1996-05-18 | HeatWashington County · forecast zone Washington An early-season four-day heat wave, following a period of cool and generally cloudy weather, took it's toll on outdoor enthusiasts who were unprepared for the dramatic temperature swing. Two persons suffered heat stroke in Washington Co (MDZ003), requiring hospitalization. Temperatures for the period averaged in the ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2017-07-22 | Thunderstorm WindSandy Hook, Washington County A tree fell onto a car along Route 340 at Potomac River Crossing. An injury occurred due to the fallen tree. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2007-08-25 | LightningWeverton, Washington County Washington County Emergency Management and local newspapers reported that a woman was injured when struck by lightning while tubing on the C&O Canal in southern Washington County. A 27 year old woman was struck by lightning while in the water near the intersection of Keep Tryst Road at Weverton Road. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1998-06-16 | TornadoHalfway, Washington County The approach of a cold front combined with impressive jet stream energy at upper-levels of the atmosphere acted on unstable air near the surface to produce a major severe weather episode across northern Maryland for the second time in three weeks. The combustible situation produced a mesoscale low pressure system ... | F1 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $362K |
| 1991-05-06 | Thunderstorm WindWashington County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-01-19 | FloodWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $28M | |
| 1999-08-01 | DroughtWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $18M | |
| 1997-07-01 | DroughtWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $17M | |
| 2018-05-15 | Flash FloodGapland, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $5.4M | |
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodAll, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 1996-06-18 | Flash FloodE Portion, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 1997-04-10 | Frost/FreezeWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 1996-09-06 | FloodWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $978K |
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: July 24, 1961 (tornado, Washington 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 Washington 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 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 49 | 65 | 143 | 127 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 22 | 60 | 95 | 39 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 12 | 23 | 59 | 24 |
| Hail | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 37 | 34 | 16 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 0 | 11 | 52 z | 13 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 23 | 27 | 10 |
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds in the 2010s: 52 records against 11 in the decade before, 52 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Washington County days with a record above.
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 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 107 · Feb 90 · Mar 75 · Apr 64 · May 145 · Jun 168 · Jul 152 · Aug 112 · Sep 89 · Oct 34 · Nov 22 · Dec 81 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Washington County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Washington County: 10 major disasters, 7 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1975-10-04 | DR-489 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 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 Washington County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 118 flood or flash flood records for Washington County from 1996 to 2025, on 61 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Washington County ranks 641st 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 $3.9 million on 370 claims filed in Washington County; the most in one year was 160 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 19 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 39 · 1985: 53 · 1986: 1 · 1988: 2 · 1991: 6 · 1992: 3 · 1993: 14 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 160 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 4 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 9 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 4 · 2012: 2 · 2014: 15 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 2; 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 Washington County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Washington County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $26.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 3.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $4.1M | once in about 13 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $217K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.4M | 3.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $14M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $491K | 37 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $881K | 6.4 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $15K | 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 Washington 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 Washington CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Washington County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis