NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Hancock, MD
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
21 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Hancock, Maryland since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Sandy in 2012. Since 1950, 37 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 18
- Tornadoes
- 37
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Hancock
The strongest storm to pass near Hancock was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 1 hurricane with 91 mph winds when its centre passed 70 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 13 miles. The record near Hancock begins with an unnamed storm in 1876; the most recent system was Sandy in 2012, a tropical storm 34 miles away. The 1890s and the 1950s were the busiest decades, with 4 systems each. Of the 21 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Hancock has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 14% of the 239 Maryland cities on this site. The highest rating among the 37 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 19, 2019, came within 24 miles. Of the 37, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 21 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 9. The most recent tornado was on June 17, 2025. Of the 239 Maryland cities, 91% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Hancock. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 59 times since 1957, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Hancock has more hail reports within 10 miles than 50% of the 239 Maryland cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Hancock
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | SandyOct 30 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2003 | IsabelSep 19 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 46 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 24 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 20 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 23 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 14 | 13 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 21 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 70 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 13 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 18 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Hancock: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Hancock
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s11
- 2000s8
- 1990s11
- 1970s4
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 24 mi | 2.89 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 24 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Jun 17, 2025 | EF1 | 9 mi | 1.06 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | 25 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 4, 2017 | EF1 | 12 mi | 1.22 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 2014 | EF1 | 21 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 2012 | EF1 | 8 mi | 1.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 17, 2011 | EF1 | 23 mi | 2.11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | 24 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | 24 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | 5 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 1998 | F1 | 22 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 37, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Hancock
The Storm Prediction Center has 59 hail reports within 10 miles of Hancock since 1957, made on 29 separate days. Of these, 53 were 1 inch across or larger, and 12 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently May 26, 2011. The most recent report is from May 27, 2024. May has the most reports, 30.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Hancock
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Cacapon St Pk #2, WV, 13 miles south of Hancock at 958 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 85°F and low of 62°F; January is the coolest, at 40°F and 21°F. June is the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.2 inches; the year adds up to 42.8 inches over 71 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (22.8 of 42.8 inches); the other six months are drier. Highs reach 90°F on about 19 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 122 nights a year. That 42.8 inches is more than at 8 of the 41 Maryland stations used on this site (20%). Warfordsburg, PA, 7 miles north, has its own station (Everett, PA): 40.4 inches a year, 2.4 less than here, and the same July average high, 85°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40 | 21 | 3.6 | 5 |
| Feb | 43 | 23 | 2.2 | 5 |
| Mar | 52 | 30 | 3.0 | 6 |
| Apr | 64 | 40 | 3.5 | 7 |
| May | 73 | 49 | 4.4 | 8 |
| Jun | 81 | 58 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Jul | 85 | 62 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Aug | 83 | 60 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Sep | 77 | 53 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Oct | 66 | 42 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Nov | 54 | 32 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Dec | 44 | 25 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Year | 63 | 41 | 42.8 | 71 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Cacapon St Pk #2, WV (958 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Hancock
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 217 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Hancock: 162 thunderstorm wind reports, 47 floods and 8 flash floods. They killed 1 person and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $1.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on May 1, 2003. August has had the most flash floods, 4 of 8. Of the 239 Maryland cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 10 have had fewer than Hancock.
April 11, 2021: flood 9 miles from the centre of Hancock — 1 killed.
April 19, 2025: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Hancock — $500,000 damage.
April 8, 2000: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Hancock — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Damage was reported to buildings and cars on Williams and Independence Streets.”
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Flood insurance policyholders in Hancock's ZIP code 21750 have filed 29 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1981, and were paid $495,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 1996, with 15. 45% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 150 Maryland cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 52 have fewer than Hancock.
Washington County, which includes Hancock, has been named in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 5 hurricanes, 4 snowstorms, 3 floods, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 26, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Washington County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Low for tornadoes and hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $26.9 million a year, the 10th highest of 24 Maryland counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $14.5 million (54%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. 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).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets 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).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Hancock
- Warfordsburg, PA7 mi
- Berkeley Springs, WV9 mi
- Hedgesville, WV13 mi
- Clear Spring, MD16 mi
- Mercersburg, PA17 mi
- Paw Paw, WV18 mi
- Falling Waters, WV19 mi
- Mc Connellsburg, PA21 mi
- Martinsburg, WV21 mi
- Gerrardstown, WV22 mi
- Williamsport, MD22 mi
- Everett, PA23 mi
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