NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Union Bridge, 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
25 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Union Bridge, Maryland since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 91 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 22
- Tornadoes
- 91
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Union Bridge
The strongest storm to pass near Union Bridge was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds when its centre passed 18 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Hazel in 1954, whose centre came within 10 miles. The record near Union Bridge begins with an unnamed storm in 1876; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 67 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 5 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 25 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Union Bridge has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 14% of the 239 Maryland cities on this site. The highest rating among the 91 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on July 19, 1996, came within 11 miles. Of the 91, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 43 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 20. The most recent tornado was on June 5, 2024. Of the 239 Maryland cities, 50% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Union Bridge. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 30 times since 1993, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Of the 239 Maryland cities, 79% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Union Bridge.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Union Bridge
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2012 | SandyOct 30 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 2 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1992 | DanielleSep 26 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 10 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormOct 1 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 24 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 20 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 30 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 23 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 14 | 43 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 21 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 18 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 18 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Union Bridge: 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 Union Bridge
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s18
- 2000s15
- 1990s24(1 EF3+)
- 1980s2(1 EF3+)
- 1970s9
- 1960s7
- 1950s6(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 1996 | F3 | 11 mi | 2.2 mi | 0 / 3 |
| May 22, 1983 | F3 | 11 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 1952 | F3 | 20 mi | 17.5 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Jun 5, 2024 | EF2 | 14 mi | 4.42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 2024 | EF2 | 14 mi | 4.42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 2, 2018 | EF2 | 11 mi | 5.45 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | 22 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 2001 | F2 | 16 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 59 |
| Jun 8, 1990 | F2 | 24 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 23, 1979 | F2 | 10 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1978 | F2 | 17 mi | 20 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 91, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Union Bridge
The Storm Prediction Center has 30 hail reports within 10 miles of Union Bridge since 1993, made on 19 separate days. Of these, 22 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on May 10, 2000. The most recent report is from May 16, 2025. June has the most reports, 11.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Union Bridge
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Emmitsburg 2 SE, MD, 10 miles northwest of Union Bridge at 403 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 85°F and low of 64°F; January is the coolest, at 40°F and 22°F. September is the wettest at 5.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 46.8 inches over 85 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (24.5 of 46.8 inches); the other six months are drier. Highs reach 90°F on about 18 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 114 nights a year. Snowfall averages 27.5 inches a year, most of it in February. That 46.8 inches is more than at 23 of the 41 Maryland stations used on this site (56%). Westminster, 10 miles east, has its own station (Hanover 4 SW, PA): 44.1 inches a year, 2.7 less than here, and the same July average high, 85°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40 | 22 | 3.5 | 7 | 8.7 |
| Feb | 43 | 23 | 2.6 | 6 | 8.8 |
| Mar | 52 | 30 | 4.2 | 8 | 4.4 |
| Apr | 64 | 40 | 3.9 | 7 | 0.2 |
| May | 72 | 51 | 4.3 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 85 | 64 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 84 | 62 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 5.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.1 |
| Nov | 54 | 33 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.8 |
| Dec | 44 | 27 | 3.8 | 7 | 4.5 |
| Year | 64 | 43 | 46.8 | 85 | 27.5 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Emmitsburg 2 SE, MD (403 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 Union Bridge
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 307 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Union Bridge: 200 thunderstorm wind reports, 89 floods and 18 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $3.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on June 22, 2012. September has had the most flash floods, 9 of 18. Of the 239 Maryland cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 60 have had fewer than Union Bridge.
April 19, 2025: thunderstorm wind 1 mile from the centre of Union Bridge — $1.0 million damage.
NWS: “Hundreds of trees, wires, and poles blew down in Taneytown, Linwood, and Uniontown. Several homes had roof damage and significant shingle or siding loss.”
June 14, 2026: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Union Bridge — $1.0 million damage.
NWS: “On June 15, 2026, a survey team from the National Weather Service|Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office conducted a formal|storm assessment in Frederick County, Maryland. The objective of|the field survey was to analyze the thunderstorm wind damage that|occurred during the evening of Sunday, June 14, 2026.”
August 7, 2023: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Union Bridge — $250,000 damage.
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
Frederick County, which includes Union Bridge, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1971, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 hurricanes, 5 floods, 5 snowstorms, 4 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 26, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Frederick County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Relatively Low for hurricanes. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $49.9 million a year, the 8th highest of 24 Maryland counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $32.2 million (65%), 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 Union Bridge
- New Windsor, MD5 mi
- Keymar, MD5 mi
- Woodsboro, MD7 mi
- Taneytown, MD8 mi
- Westminster, MD10 mi
- Walkersville, MD10 mi
- New Market, MD12 mi
- Mount Airy, MD12 mi
- Emmitsburg, MD12 mi
- Thurmont, MD13 mi
- Littlestown, PA14 mi
- Monrovia, MD14 mi
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