Ocean City, Maryland's History with Tropical Systems (including Assateague Island to the south)

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871)

Ocean City most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 14th and September 20th

Years within or near core

1872bdts
1874bdts
1877bdxts
1879
1881bdtsbr
1882bdts
1882ts
1888bdxts
1889tsbr
1893tsbr
1893br
1893ts
1894br
1894
1897-2tsbr
1899bdxtsbr
1902-2bdxtropst
1903
1904bdxtropst
1916xtropst
1923xtrop
1924xtropst
1933br (HURDAT)
1934br
1936
1943ts
1944bdts
1944br
1944bdxtropst
1953br
1954brm
1955ts
1960ts
1960
1961ts
1967ts
1971ts
1972tsbr
1976br
1983tsbr
1985
1986tsbr
1992ts
1996bdts
1999
2004ts
2008tsbdbr
2011
2012xtroph
2013bdxtropst 2020ts
2020bdts
2020bdxts
2021bdts
2023bdtsbr

57 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (D storms most likely to impact the area)

Barbara
Carol
Connie
Brenda
Donna
Gerda
Doria
Doria(again)
Agnes
Belle
Dean
Gloria
Charley
Danielle
Bertha
Floyd
Charley
Hanna
Irene
Sandy
Andrea
Fay
Isaias
Zeta
Elsa
Ophelia

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 39, 68.42%
H = 18, 31.58%

only 1.92% of all tropical systems affecting Ocean City are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

11 years 1905-1915

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.68 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (hurricane force wind gusts for a few hours)

Once every 17 years. (9 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

No data (0 hits)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

90 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Before the end of 2026

This is just a statistical average & does not mean the area will be affected by that year.

Last affected by

2023 September 23rd Tropical Storm Ophelia passes southwest with 45 mph winds while becoming post tropical, area has gusts to 61 mph.

This area's hurricane history

1879 from south August 18th 95 mph center of eye 25 miles to east.
1894 in October on the 10th, 80 mph from the south-southwest passes just east by 16 miles.
1903 September 16th a category 1, 85 mph moves through from the south center of eye passes 22 miles to east. Almost every building was damaged with many landmark hotel partially unfoofed.
1936 September 18th, a hurricane brushes just east by 38 miles with 95 mph winds while recurving out to sea from the south, Boardwalk partially destroyed.
1960 Hurricane Donna September 12th 110 mph just east by 41 miles from the south-southwest, system had a very large eye up to 100 miles wide
1985 Hurricane Gloria just east by 28 miles with 95 mph winds on September 27th, from the south causing minor damage here, more on Hurricane Gloria here.
1999 September 16th Hurricane Floyd 75 mph eye passes over while weakening to a tropical storm from the south-southwest press recorded of 28.88.
2011 August 28th, Hurricane irene passes just east by 14 miles with 80 mph winds while moving north-northeast causing minor damage.Highest wind gust reported at 55 mph with sustained barely tropical storm force hurricane force winds remain offshore. Hurricane Warning Show | Irene model history | Radar animation | USGS surge info
2012 October 29th, Hurricane Sandy hits just north with 90 mph winds from the east-southeast while beoming post tropical. Sandy's closest approach here 42 miles north-northeast with 90 mph winds while headed towards New Jersey. Overall minor damage here compared to areas further north. Ocean City At the Beach Enterprises reported a gust to 75 mph, station has unknown elevation. Ocean City inlet surge 4.33 feet, 1 death in Maryland Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Sandy model history | Hurricane warning show| Post NHC | USGS surge info

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......