Strong Wind Risk in Maryland
All Maryland counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index strong wind score
Strong Wind risk — damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes — is rated for 24 of 24 Maryland counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Montgomery County carries the state's highest strong wind score at 96.6, with $4M in expected annual strong wind losses.
8 Maryland counties are rated High or Very High for strong wind, and expected annual losses from strong wind total roughly $40M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Strong Wind
| # | County | Strong Wind Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montgomery County | High | 8.21 / yr | $4M | |
| 2 | Baltimore City | High | 8.13 / yr | $3M | |
| 3 | Baltimore County | High | 7.99 / yr | $3M | |
| 4 | Prince George's County | High | 7.24 / yr | $3M | |
| 5 | Carroll County | High | 7.81 / yr | $4M | |
| 6 | Anne Arundel County | High | 7.74 / yr | $4M | |
| 7 | Howard County | High | 8.04 / yr | $3M | |
| 8 | Cecil County | High | 7.32 / yr | $2M | |
| 9 | Frederick County | Medium | 7.70 / yr | $2M | |
| 10 | Harford County | Medium | 7.45 / yr | $2M | |
| 11 | Charles County | Medium | 6.24 / yr | $2M | |
| 12 | Allegany County | Medium | 3.49 / yr | $803K | |
| 13 | Washington County | Medium | 6.37 / yr | $881K | |
| 14 | Caroline County | Medium | 4.12 / yr | $765K | |
| 15 | St. Mary's County | Medium | 4.69 / yr | $1M | |
| 16 | Calvert County | Low | 5.62 / yr | $894K | |
| 17 | Queen Anne's County | Low | 6.59 / yr | $593K | |
| 18 | Talbot County | Low | 6.09 / yr | $489K | |
| 19 | Dorchester County | Low | 3.37 / yr | $409K | |
| 20 | Kent County | Low | 7.14 / yr | $395K | |
| 21 | Wicomico County | Low | 1.63 / yr | $398K | |
| 22 | Somerset County | Low | 1.50 / yr | $289K | |
| 23 | Worcester County | Low | 0.83 / yr | $299K | |
| 24 | Garrett County | Low | 2.30 / yr | $282K |
24 Maryland counties with measurable strong wind risk. See the national strong wind ranking or all Maryland counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Maryland county has the highest strong wind risk?
Montgomery County has the highest FEMA strong wind risk score in Maryland at 96.6 (High), with $4M in expected annual losses and about 8.21 events per year.
How many Maryland counties face significant strong wind risk?
24 Maryland counties record measurable strong wind risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 8 of them are rated High or Very High.