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Flood in Howard County, Maryland
167 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Howard County, Maryland, has 167 flood events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 25 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 30 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 135 events against 32 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 4.7% of the 3,545 flood events recorded in Maryland; its 66.5 per 100 square miles compares with 36.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 4 deaths in the county to floods and flash floods.
Compared with Maryland
| Measure | Howard County | Maryland | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 167 | 3,545 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 66.5 | 36.5 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.0 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 4 | 24 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | May | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
4Mar
4Apr
13May
30Jun
25Jul
26Aug
11Sep
25Oct
8Nov
6Dec
11
Recorded events
All 167 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2024 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2020 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2020 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | $11M | — | 1 | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | $22M | — | 2 | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2015 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2015 | Flood | — | $10K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2012 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2012 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Dec 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Dec 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2008 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2007 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 2006 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2006 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2006 | Flash Flood | — | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 2005 | Flood | — | — | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jul 2005 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jun 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jan 2005 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Aug 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Dec 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 1996 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Howard County had?
167 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Howard County?
31 Jul 2025 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Howard County?
The flash flood of 30 Jul 2016, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $22M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Howard County compare with Maryland for flood?
66.5 events per 100 square miles against 36.5 statewide; the county holds 167 of the state's 3,545 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Flood hub and the county page.