Dorchester County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Dorchester County: 1.
2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Every storm within 100 miles

1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Every large fire

1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Claims by ZIP code

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges

1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

High tide flooding

Other tide gauges here: Bishops Head (record 10 days, 2019).

1. High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.

NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Tsunamis

1. Places where NOAA's Global Historical Tsunami Database records a tsunami's water arriving, with the greatest height it reached above sea level at the time. Only tsunamis NOAA rates probable or definite are counted. Heights from eyewitness accounts and tide gauges are mixed, and older events are less completely recorded.

NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database, retrieved October 30, 2026.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Sep 18, 2003Tropical Storm, Dorchester$1.4 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Hurricane Isabel was a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Isabel produced tropical storm force sustained winds and wind gusts over the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore. Isabel made landfall near Ocracoke Inlet in North Carolina, tracked northwest into central Virginia just west of Richmond, then continued northward into western Pennsylvania. The highest sustained wind speed recorded was 45 mph at Cambridge Maryland in Dorchester county. Other sustained wind speeds were 41 mph at Ocean City (OXB), and 37 mph at Salisbury (SBY). The highest gusts recorded were 62 mph at Hurlock in Dorchester county, 60 mph at Ocean Pines in Worcester county, and 57…

2. Oct 28, 2021Coastal Flood, Dorchester$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Strong low pressure tracked from the Middle Mississippi Valley east northeast toward the Northeast United States from Thursday, October 28th into Saturday, October 30th. This system produced very strong east southeast winds, then strong south to southwest winds through the period. This caused moderate to major (tidal) coastal flooding across much of Dorchester county adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay. Bishops Head reached 5.14 feet MLLW at 924 pm on Friday, October 29. The hardest hit area was across southern Dorchester County from Hoopers Island and Fishing Creek to Crapo, Wingate, Bishops Head and Crocheron. Crocheron, in particular, was hit hard with all homes in the town…

3. Sep 1, 2006High Wind, Dorchester$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The remnants of Ernesto along the Mid Atlantic coast combined with strong high pressure over New England produced very strong winds across the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore. Sustained winds in mph ranged from the lower 40s to near 50 with maximum gusts ranging from the mid 50s to as high as the mid 70s. Some higher sustained winds included 49 mph (43 knots) at Ocean City, and 45 mph (39 knots) at Salisbury. Some higher maximum gusts included 75 mph (65 knots) at Bishops Head, and 70 mph (61 knots) at Smith Island. The high winds caused numerous downed trees and power outages, along with significant structural damage.

4. Feb 24, 2012Thunderstorm Wind$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Scattered severe thunderstorms moved from west to east across Dorchester county from 350 pm through 415 pm. The first areas of damage occurred from Maple Dam Road to Pintail Point just west and south of Cambridge. The wind damaged several homes and businesses in downtown Cambridge, and at least 2 homes were condemned due to roof damage. Roofing membranes were peeled off of several businesses downtown and numerous windows were blown in. A tractor trailer was overturned while driving east on the Senator Malkus Bridge. Winds in Cambridge averaged between 70 and 85 mph based on tree and structural damage. The severe storms continued east along the river then striking Secretary, New…

5. Oct 29, 2012Coastal Flood, Dorchester$750,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Water levels reached 3.0 feet to 4.0 feet above normal adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay resulting in moderate to severe coastal flooding. Cambridge reached a tide height of 4.55 feet MLLW. Many roads in the southern half of Dorchester county were inundated and rendered impassable during the height of Sandy. Homes and businesses experienced flooding and associated water damage. However, the flooding and damage were less than that experienced during Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

6. Oct 14, 2003Tornado$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   F0/weak F1 tornado damaged several homes, outbuildings, a garage, 2 cars, 3 chicken houses, and 2 businesses. Also, numerous trees down or damaged.

7. May 13, 2000Thunderstorm Wind$300,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Thunderstorm winds downed a large 110 foot tall, 7 ton sail being constructed adjacent to the Choptank River. The sail fell and damaged the deck around the site, and a nearby wall.

8. Aug 4, 2020Tropical Storm, Dorchester$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Tropical storm winds downed and uprooted several trees and power lines, produced significant structural damage, and caused power outages across the county. Wind gust of 56 knots (64 mph) was measured at Blackwater. Wind gust of 51 knots (59 mph) was measured at Cambridge.

9. Oct 28, 2021Coastal Flood, Dorchester$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Strong low pressure tracked from the Middle Mississippi Valley east northeast toward the Northeast United States from Thursday, October 28th into Saturday, October 30th. This system produced very strong east southeast winds, then strong south to southwest winds through the period. This caused moderate to major (tidal) coastal flooding across much of Dorchester county adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay. Cambridge reached 5.26 feet MLLW at 1212 am on Saturday, October 30. The town of Madison experienced flooding. The Madison Fire and EMS building was evacuated and relocated to higher ground. The firehouse had 1 foot of water in it. Also, a restaurant on the Madison waterfront had 2 feet…

10. Dec 21, 2012Coastal Flood, Dorchester$200,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Water levels reached 3.0 feet to 4.0 feet above normal adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay resulting in moderate to severe coastal flooding. Cambridge reached a tide height of 4.7 feet MLLW at high tide and spent nearly 7 hours above 4.0 feet MLLW. Bishops Head reached a tide height of 4.12 feet MLLW and spent 2 hours at or above 4.0 feet MLLW. Many roads were flooded in Cambridge including Water Street, Main Street, and Oakley Street. Also, Great Marsh Park in Cambridge was underwater. Ambulance driver reported 8-10 inches of water on Taylors Island Road.

1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

All-time high

102°F2 times, most recently Jul 7, 2012

All-time low

−6°FJan 18, 1982

Warmest night

83°FAug 14, 2016

Coldest day

14°F3 times, most recently Jan 19, 1994

Wettest day

8.90 inNov 2, 1956

Snowiest day

20.0 inFeb 19, 1979

Hottest year

2024mean 60.4°F

Coldest year

1958mean 55.4°F

Wettest year

200365.86 in

Driest year

196531.71 in

Snowiest season

54.0 in2009-10

Station Royal Oak 2 Ssw (USC00187806), 10 ft elevation, 13.9 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 4, 2026; 98.3% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Neighbouring counties

• Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
• Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
• Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
• Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
• Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
• Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00187806.
• River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
• Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Tsunamis NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database.
• Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.