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Tornado in Howard County, Maryland
20 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
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.
NCEI records 20 tornado events in Howard County, Maryland, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 17 years.
July is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 12 events against 6 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 4.6% of the 438 tornado events recorded in Maryland; its 8.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.5 statewide.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Maryland
| Measure | Howard County | Maryland | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 20 | 438 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 8.0 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.6 | 0.7 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 9 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | July | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
0May
2Jun
4Jul
6Aug
3Sep
2Oct
1Nov
1Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $3.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Nov 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2001 | Tornado | F2 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 28 Aug 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1978 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1975 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Howard County had?
20 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Howard County?
11 Mar 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Howard County?
The tornado of 5 Jun 2024, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $3.0M.
How does Howard County compare with Maryland for tornado?
8.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.5 statewide; the county holds 20 of the state's 438 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 Tornado hub and the county page.