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Washington, DC Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Washington is about the same as District of Columbia average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Washington is about the same as District of Columbia average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #4
| Washington, DC | 0.07 |
| District of Columbia | 0.07 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Washington, DC | 0.0000 |
| District of Columbia | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #4
| Washington, DC | 162.91 |
| District of Columbia | 163.87 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 5,312 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Washington, DC were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 5 | Cold: | 39 | Dense Fog: | 34 | Drought: | 27 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 675 | Hail: | 882 | Heat: | 57 | Heavy Snow: | 49 |
| High Surf: | 1 | Hurricane: | 3 | Ice Storm: | 15 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 110 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,601 | Tropical Storm: | 7 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 93 | Winter Weather: | 103 |
| Other: | 611 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Washington, DC.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Washington, DC.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Washington, DC.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 43 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Washington, DC.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 7.0 | 1995-10-05 | 2 | 38°49'N / 76°57'W | 2.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 5.0M | 0 | Prince George's | |
| Brief Description: The strongest tornado, containing estimated winds of 150 mph, caused substantial damage, and several injuries, at a Temple Hills neighborhood. Three persons sustained minor injuries requiring a short hospital stay; 17 others reported cuts and abrasions. In all, 100 homes suffered damage. Fifteen of the homes were damaged severely enough to be condemned; four homes lost their entire roofs. Numerous trees, several wide-girthed hardwoods, were uprooted, and 9,000 Potomac Electric Power customers were without power. | |||||||||||
| 8.5 | 1979-09-05 | 3 | 38°47'N / 77°05'W | 39°00'N / 77°16'W | 17.90 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Fairfax |
| 9.0 | 1971-09-12 | 2 | 38°53'N / 76°53'W | 38°54'N / 76°49'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Prince George's |
| 9.5 | 2001-09-24 | 3 | 38°56'N / 76°59'W | 39°06'N / 76°51'W | 11.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 2 | 55 | 100.0M | 0 | Prince George's |
| Brief Description: A large multi-vortex tornado touched down near Hyattsville, tracked along the Route 1 cooridor from College Park to Laurel, then crossed into Howard County. The tornado killed 2 students at the University of Maryland, injured 54 others countywide, and caused 100 million dollars in damage. F20VE, F23VE Severe thunderstorms moved through Central Maryland during the early evening of the 24th. One thunderstorm produced a devastating F3 tornado which was on the ground for 17.5 miles from College Park in Prince George's County to just east of Columbia in Howard County. Multiple vortices were reported with the tornado at times. The tornado first touched down in Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park just west of Hyattsville. It rapidly strengthened to an F3 tornado with winds up to 200 MPH. The damage path ranged in width from 100 to 200 yards. The tornado crossed the intersection of Adelphi Road and University Boulevard into the western campus of the University of Maryland. Ten trailers being used as a temporary office for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute were completely destroyed by the twister. Debris from the trailers such as video tapes and pieces of paper were found up to 60 miles away in Northern Baltimore and Harford Counties in addition to extreme southeast Pennsylvania. Four of the six people inside the trailers were injured, one seriously. One staff member was thrown free of the destruction and was found in a dumpster nearby. Another person dug their hands into the carpet and held on as their feet were being pulled up in the air by the tornado. The other four occupants, including one child, took shelter under desks and survived. Two University of Maryland students who were visiting their father who worked in the trailers left by car shortly before the tornado hit. The two sisters, ages 20 and 23, were killed when the tornado picked up their car outside of Denton Hall and threw it either around or over an eight-story dorm. They died instantly when their car crashed into a wooded area 300 yards from the road. Most of the other buildings on the campus in the path of the storm were made of brick and suffered only minor to moderate damage, such as Denton Hall Dormitory, Easton Hall Dormitory and Dining Hall, and the President's Mansion. A parking lot outside of Denton Hall full of cars was also hit by the tornado. At least 200 vehicles in the parking lot were damaged, including at least 100 that were blown into and onto other vehicles. At least twenty cars were totaled and one car was partially ripped apart. The woods behind the parking lot were nearly flattened. The bubble roof of the football practice facility near Byrd Stadium was removed. Forty-eight people on campus, including 25 students, were injured by flying debris as the twister downed trees and ripped pieces of siding and roofing off buildings. In addition, residential areas near the campus, including the University Courtyard Apartments sustained damage. A total of 3000 students were left temporarily homeless after two dorms and an off-campus housing unit were evacuated due to storm damage. During the recovery effort, a 78-year-old firefighter who responded to the tragedy at the University died of a heart attack shortly after returning from the scene. The tornado moved north-northeast off the campus and crossed University Boulevard at the intersection of Metzerott Road. The steeple of a church was removed and cars were flipped near the intersection. Power lines and trees were also downed. The twister continued through Paint Branch Stream Valley Park where it downed numerous trees. The tornado weakened to F2 strength before it crossed Interstate 95/495 just west of the Route 1 interchange. It was remarkable that even though the highway was filled with bumper to bumper rush hour traffic, the only damage reported was a flipped tractor trailer. The next area hit by the tornado was the community of Cherry Hill. Several trees and power lines were downed onto roads and houses just west of Baltimore Avenue, including the Chestnut Hills subdivision. Several businesses along Route 1 sustained minor damage, and three additional buildings lost portions of their roofs. Three employees of a business in the Chestnut Hills Shopping Center were injured by flying glass after the windows on the front of the store were shattered. The tornado moved across the National Agricultural Research Center and caused over $40 million dollars in damage. Thirty greenhouses were damaged and several long term studies inside were destroyed. Fifteen other buildings west of Route 1 suffered minor to moderate damage. Numerous trees, including a row of historic willow oaks, were downed. Over 65 vehicles in the employee parking lot were damaged by flying debris. Eleven of these vehicles were totaled. Just north of the research center, "stunning" tree and power line damage was reported at the intersection of Sellman and Montgomery Roads. The tornado tracked across Powder Mill Road and ripped the roof off an office building at the intersection of Cedar Lane. It continued across the Beltsville Heights development and caused damage to the roof at Martin Luther King Elementary School. The tornado continued moving north-northeast toward Laurel. The continuation of the damage path was located at the Virginia Manor Industrial Park on Van Dusen Road where several trees were downed. The tornado was spotted as it moved past Laurel Hospital and it caused minor damage in the Village at Wellington subdivision nearby. The next concentrated area of damage was found at Laurel High School. An annex with 6 classrooms was heavily damaged. The roof was ripped off three of the classrooms and three people inside the structure were injured by flying debris. Significant damage was also reported to the athletic fields behind the school. The tornado moved northeast across the Fairlawn development where it damaged several homes. One home on 10th Street was destroyed after the twister removed the roof and an outside wall. On Montrose Avenue, a woman and her dog were briefly picked up by the tornado. The woman sustained injuries to her hip and leg after being tossed 3 feet in the air and the dog landed uninjured. The historic Harrison Building at the corner of 9th and Montgomery Streets lost its roof and a church and school nearby were damaged. The tornado remained on the ground as it crossed the Patuxent River into Howard County. Across Prince George's County, the tornado was responsible for $100 million in damage. A total of 861 homes, 561 vehicles, and 23 businesses were damaged countywide. In North Laurel, the twister heavily damaged a townhouse complex on Riverbrink Court in the Settlers Landing development. A total of 43 townhomes were damaged, four of which were uninhabitable. The tornado weakened to an F1 before it downed trees onto All Saints Road. The tornado weakened to an F0 as it exited North Laurel and moved across Savage Park. Isolated reports of downed trees were received in the community, including on Red Jacket Way, Vollmerhausen Road, and at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 32. In its final stages, the tornado crossed the General Electric Appliance Park and downed its final tree at the intersection of Snowden River Parkway and Route 175 southeast of Columbia. In addition to the devastating tornado, the storms also produced very heavy rainfall and gusty winds. In Anne Arundel County, strong winds from the tornadic thunderstorm downed 13 trees between Laurel and Maryland City. In northern Carroll County, a bow echo produced damaging winds which downed trees along Bankard Road northwest of Union Mills. Rainfall totals included 3.93 inches in Millers, 3.30 inches in Manchester, and 3.26 inches in Westminster. In Montgomery County, 2 to 4 inches of rainfall across the western portion of the county caused low lying areas to quickly fill with water. Several roads were flooded including River Road and Falls Road. A motorist had to be rescued after their car stalled in high water in Poolsville. A total of 3.61 inches of rainfall was recorded in Damascus. In Howard County, between 2 and 3.75 inches of rain fell. A total of 2.86 inches was recorded in Columbia and 3.46 inches fell just southeast of the city. In Frederick County, several roads were flooded by heavy downpours including Ball Road off Route 355 and New Design Road south of Adamstown Road. Heavy rain downed trees at the intersection of Greenfield and Page Roads, Lingamore road and Gashouse Pike, Lawson Road and Route 75, and Bittle Road and Route 17. Street flooding was also reported in Point of Rocks on Route 28. Rainfall totals included 2.54 inches in Wolfsville and 2.30 inches in Frederick. | |||||||||||
| 9.9 | 1973-04-01 | 3 | 38°51'N / 77°13'W | 38°52'N / 77°10'W | 2.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fauquier |
| 9.9 | 1983-10-13 | 2 | 38°53'N / 77°12'W | 1.00 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Falls Church (c) | |
| 11.9 | 1969-08-09 | 2 | 38°52'N / 77°14'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Fairfax | |||
| 14.9 | 1973-04-01 | 3 | 38°48'N / 77°20'W | 38°51'N / 77°13'W | 7.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 37 | 25.0M | 0 | Fairfax |
| 15.9 | 1978-06-20 | 2 | 38°41'N / 77°06'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Charles | |
| 19.4 | 1996-06-24 | 2 | 38°50'N / 77°31'W | 38°50'N / 77°13'W | 19.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 4.0M | 0 | Fairfax |
| Brief Description: A tornado, associated with the mesocyclone of a heavy-precipitation supercell, touched down in extreme southeastern Loudoun Co near the Bull Run, then proceeded east-southeast for 20 miles, knocking down over 1000 trees and causing substantial property damage, especially in western Fairfax County, before lifting along the Capital Beltway at the Braddock Road interchange less than 2 miles west of Annandale. While moving over rural terrain in extreme southeastern Loudoun and extreme western Fairfax Cos, the tornado uprooted or snapped tens of trees. The storm rapidly intensified over western Fairfax Co, where it produced F2 damage. The storm uprooted or snapped hundreds of trees along Pleasant Valley Road (local route 621) before moving into the Sully Station area of Centreville, where it produced estimated winds of over 130 mph. The most impressive damage occurred along Tree Line Drive, where 11 of 17 homes incurred moderate to major damage. Eight homes were condemned due to major damage or total destruction, including one which lost it's entire roof and back wall. Dozens more homes sustained moderate damage, including shingle, siding, chimney, roof, and window damage. After passing through Sully Station, the twister weakened somewhat, producing F1-rated damage until just south of Fairfax City (near Burke), then weakened to F0 intensity before it was overwhelmed by straight-line winds near the Capital Beltway. The storm accelerated on an east-southeast track roughly paralleling Braddock Road. Additional damage was incurred to residences and trees from subdivisions west of Fairfax City to just north of Burke (south of Fairfax City), continuing to the Annandale area. The combined efforts of several agencies produced property damage estimates along the track (not including flora) to be $2.99 million. Included in that total are 323 homes which sustained minor damage. An estimated 80 thousand homes lost power along the track of the tornado in Fairfax Co, with some homes not receiving juice until several days after the event. | |||||||||||
| 21.1 | 2001-09-24 | 2 | 39°08'N / 76°53'W | 39°14'N / 76°50'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Howard |
| Brief Description: A tornado crossed into Howard County from Laurel and remained on the ground until it dissipated about 1 mile east of Columbia. Several townhomes in North Laurel were damaged and trees were downed along the remainder of its path. Severe thunderstorms moved through Central Maryland during the early evening of the 24th. One thunderstorm produced a devastating F3 tornado which was on the ground for 17.5 miles from College Park in Prince George's County to just east of Columbia in Howard County. Multiple vortices were reported with the tornado at times. The tornado first touched down in Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park just west of Hyattsville. It rapidly strengthened to an F3 tornado with winds up to 200 MPH. The damage path ranged in width from 100 to 200 yards. The tornado crossed the intersection of Adelphi Road and University Boulevard into the western campus of the University of Maryland. Ten trailers being used as a temporary office for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute were completely destroyed by the twister. Debris from the trailers such as video tapes and pieces of paper were found up to 60 miles away in Northern Baltimore and Harford Counties in addition to extreme southeast Pennsylvania. Four of the six people inside the trailers were injured, one seriously. One staff member was thrown free of the destruction and was found in a dumpster nearby. Another person dug their hands into the carpet and held on as their feet were being pulled up in the air by the tornado. The other four occupants, including one child, took shelter under desks and survived. Two University of Maryland students who were visiting their father who worked in the trailers left by car shortly before the tornado hit. The two sisters, ages 20 and 23, were killed when the tornado picked up their car outside of Denton Hall and threw it either around or over an eight-story dorm. They died instantly when their car crashed into a wooded area 300 yards from the road. Most of the other buildings on the campus in the path of the storm were made of brick and suffered only minor to moderate damage, such as Denton Hall Dormitory, Easton Hall Dormitory and Dining Hall, and the President's Mansion. A parking lot outside of Denton Hall full of cars was also hit by the tornado. At least 200 vehicles in the parking lot were damaged, including at least 100 that were blown into and onto other vehicles. At least twenty cars were totaled and one car was partially ripped apart. The woods behind the parking lot were nearly flattened. The bubble roof of the football practice facility near Byrd Stadium was removed. Forty-eight people on campus, including 25 students, were injured by flying debris as the twister downed trees and ripped pieces of siding and roofing off buildings. In addition, residential areas near the campus, including the University Courtyard Apartments sustained damage. A total of 3000 students were left temporarily homeless after two dorms and an off-campus housing unit were evacuated due to storm damage. During the recovery effort, a 78-year-old firefighter who responded to the tragedy at the University died of a heart attack shortly after returning from the scene. The tornado moved north-northeast off the campus and crossed University Boulevard at the intersection of Metzerott Road. The steeple of a church was removed and cars were flipped near the intersection. Power lines and trees were also downed. The twister continued through Paint Branch Stream Valley Park where it downed numerous trees. The tornado weakened to F2 strength before it crossed Interstate 95/495 just west of the Route 1 interchange. It was remarkable that even though the highway was filled with bumper to bumper rush hour traffic, the only damage reported was a flipped tractor trailer. The next area hit by the tornado was the community of Cherry Hill. Several trees and power lines were downed onto roads and houses just west of Baltimore Avenue, including the Chestnut Hills subdivision. Several businesses along Route 1 sustained minor damage, and three additional buildings lost portions of their roofs. Three employees of a business in the Chestnut Hills Shopping Center were injured by flying glass after the windows on the front of the store were shattered. The tornado moved across the National Agricultural Research Center and caused over $40 million dollars in damage. Thirty greenhouses were damaged and several long term studies inside were destroyed. Fifteen other buildings west of Route 1 suffered minor to moderate damage. Numerous trees, including a row of historic willow oaks, were downed. Over 65 vehicles in the employee parking lot were damaged by flying debris. Eleven of these vehicles were totaled. Just north of the research center, "stunning" tree and power line damage was reported at the intersection of Sellman and Montgomery Roads. The tornado tracked across Powder Mill Road and ripped the roof off an office building at the intersection of Cedar Lane. It continued across the Beltsville Heights development and caused damage to the roof at Martin Luther King Elementary School. The tornado continued moving north-northeast toward Laurel. The continuation of the damage path was located at the Virginia Manor Industrial Park on Van Dusen Road where several trees were downed. The tornado was spotted as it moved past Laurel Hospital and it caused minor damage in the Village at Wellington subdivision nearby. The next concentrated area of damage was found at Laurel High School. An annex with 6 classrooms was heavily damaged. The roof was ripped off three of the classrooms and three people inside the structure were injured by flying debris. Significant damage was also reported to the athletic fields behind the school. The tornado moved northeast across the Fairlawn development where it damaged several homes. One home on 10th Street was destroyed after the twister removed the roof and an outside wall. On Montrose Avenue, a woman and her dog were briefly picked up by the tornado. The woman sustained injuries to her hip and leg after being tossed 3 feet in the air and the dog landed uninjured. The historic Harrison Building at the corner of 9th and Montgomery Streets lost its roof and a church and school nearby were damaged. The tornado remained on the ground as it crossed the Patuxent River into Howard County. Across Prince George's County, the tornado was responsible for $100 million in damage. A total of 861 homes, 561 vehicles, and 23 businesses were damaged countywide. In North Laurel, the twister heavily damaged a townhouse complex on Riverbrink Court in the Settlers Landing development. A total of 43 townhomes were damaged, four of which were uninhabitable. The tornado weakened to an F1 before it downed trees onto All Saints Road. The tornado weakened to an F0 as it exited North Laurel and moved across Savage Park. Isolated reports of downed trees were received in the community, including on Red Jacket Way, Vollmerhausen Road, and at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 32. In its final stages, the tornado crossed the General Electric Appliance Park and downed its final tree at the intersection of Snowden River Parkway and Route 175 southeast of Columbia. In addition to the devastating tornado, the storms also produced very heavy rainfall and gusty winds. In Anne Arundel County, strong winds from the tornadic thunderstorm downed 13 trees between Laurel and Maryland City. In northern Carroll County, a bow echo produced damaging winds which downed trees along Bankard Road northwest of Union Mills. Rainfall totals included 3.93 inches in Millers, 3.30 inches in Manchester, and 3.26 inches in Westminster. In Montgomery County, 2 to 4 inches of rainfall across the western portion of the county caused low lying areas to quickly fill with water. Several roads were flooded including River Road and Falls Road. A motorist had to be rescued after their car stalled in high water in Poolsville. A total of 3.61 inches of rainfall was recorded in Damascus. In Howard County, between 2 and 3.75 inches of rain fell. A total of 2.86 inches was recorded in Columbia and 3.46 inches fell just southeast of the city. In Frederick County, several roads were flooded by heavy downpours including Ball Road off Route 355 and New Design Road south of Adamstown Road. Heavy rain downed trees at the intersection of Greenfield and Page Roads, Lingamore road and Gashouse Pike, Lawson Road and Route 75, and Bittle Road and Route 17. Street flooding was also reported in Point of Rocks on Route 28. Rainfall totals included 2.54 inches in Wolfsville and 2.30 inches in Frederick. | |||||||||||
| 22.4 | 1981-07-28 | 2 | 38°54'N / 77°26'W | 0.10 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fairfax | |
| 23.1 | 2004-09-17 | 2 | 38°48'N / 77°26'W | 38°54'N / 77°27'W | 7.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Fairfax |
| Brief Description: A tornadic thunderstorm entered western Fairfax County from Prince William County. The storm had a path of about 7 miles. Beginning on Old Centerville Road, the storm produced scattered tree damage along its path and minor roofing damage to structures in the London Town Area. A line of damage was carved from Lee Highway northward into the Centerville and Chantilly areas.The tornado destroyed one estate and damaged about 50 other dwellings. The storm was also responsible for downed trees and power lines. The tornado lifted as it crossed Route 50. | |||||||||||
| 24.5 | 2004-09-17 | 2 | 38°57'N / 77°27'W | 39°05'N / 77°27'W | 8.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.0M | 0 | Loudoun |
| Brief Description: A thunderstorm moved into eastern Loudoun County from Fairfax County near the Dulles International Airport. The storm produced a tornado which touched down at Dulles International Airport and passed within one half mile of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Sterling. This prompted the staff on duty to seek shelter in the office constructed saferoom. As the storm traveled north from the Dulles International Airport, it produced minor tree damage. More extensive damage occurred north of Waxpool Road at the Beaumede Corporate Park. Seven buildings were damaged. A wall collapsed in one of the buildings. A tractor trailer was overturned. The tornado also pushed two cars into the side of a building. The tornado weakened as it traveled north. The last damage in Loudoun County was reported just north of Route 7. | |||||||||||
| 25.7 | 2002-04-28 | 2 | 38°32'N / 76°59'W | 38°32'N / 76°59'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Charles |
| Brief Description: A second tornado briefly touched down just north of downtown La Plata. A massive tornadic storm tore through Central Charles and Calvert Counties between 7 and 8 PM EDT on the 28th. The tornadoes it produced left a 64 mile path of destruction ranging from F1 to F4 damage. Five people were killed, 122 were injured, and over $115 million in damage was reported. The tornadoes were spawned from a supercell thunderstorm that crossed the Potomac River from Prince William County. Up to 10 miles north of the path of the tornado, large hail up to 4.5 inches in diameter fell. Debris from the tornado was found as far away as southern Delaware. Wind damage was also reported near the path of the storm. Across Charles County, 638 homes were damaged, 100 homes were destroyed, 143 businesses (mainly in downtown La Plata) were damaged, and 49 businesses were destroyed. Countless trees and agricultural buildings were downed along the rural path of the storm. Three people were killed and at least 120 people were injured countywide, 12 critically. A 51-year-old man was killed and his wife was critically injured when their house under construction on Hawkins Gate Road, about 5 miles east of La Plata, collapsed. A 54-year-old man died in his car from an apparent heart attack at the intersection of Route 301 and Route 6 in downtown La Plata. The third victim, a 72-year-old woman, died of a heart attack in Waldorf after being frightened by the tornado. The tornado first touched down on the eastern edge of General Smallwood State Park just north of Rison. It pushed east-southeast and passed just south of Pisgah where it grew to F2 strength. The tornado moved through Mount Pisgah and damaged homes on Ripley Road between Ripley and Garden Estates. The twister continued to move east through rural lands south of Hawthorne Road (Route 255) passing just north of the community of Graystone. Next, it moved through the communities of Habre de Venture, Longmeade, Clamber Hill, Hawthorne Manor, and Hillendale about 3 miles west of downtown La Plata. The tornado, now F3 strength, hit the western portion of La Plata next, moving directly through the neighborhoods of Valley View, Morgan's Ridge, Quailwood, and Haldane. The tornado, now F4 strength, continued east into the downtown area where it crossed through the intersection of Route 301 and 6. Damage was found on either side of Route 6 with the most severe devastation occurring on the south side of the highway. The downtown business district was nearly wiped out after 65% of the buildings were either heavily damaged or destroyed. The 125-foot city water tower was also downed. The tornado continued its trek southeast of the downtown hospital into the northern portion of Clarks Run, across Route 6, and into the community of Ellenwood. The F4 tornado moved east of La Plata into the southern portion of Brynwood Farm Estates, then east across the Zekiah Swamp. Several homes at the end of Hawkins Gate Road were completely destroyed, and this was the location of one fatality and numerous injuries. Next, the tornado crossed Olivers Shop Road just north of the intersection of Route 231. It continued east through rural lands until it intersected Route 5 at Homeland Drive just south of Hughesville. East of Homeland Drive, it severely damaged the Girl Scout facility off Scout Camp Road. The tornado tracked east-southeast toward Benedict, remaining just south of Route 231 and weakening to F2 strength. It struck Colonial Lane and a home south of Benedict before crossing the river into Calvert County just south of the bridge. In Calvert County, the tornado first struck the community of Patuxent View just south of Route 231 at F2 strength. Over half of the homes in this development were damaged. One home with no foundation or anchoring just east of Patuxent View off Hallowing Point Road was picked up and thrown 80 feet into a culvert. A 68-year-old man and his 65-year-old wife who were taking shelter in the house were killed. The twister continued eastward along Sixes Road to the intersection of Adelina Road. Several homes and barns were damaged. From there it pushed east through the communities of Boyds Farm, Mutual Estates, and Chippingwood, where it damaged more property. It crossed Route 2/4 and 765 just north of St. Leonard, downing trees and it went. Finally, it crossed the Western Shores Estates development at F1 strength before it moved offshore. Another tornado formed on the Long Beach shoreline just north of Calvert Cliffs Power Plant. It downed trees before moving offshore. This tornado grew in strength as it crossed the bay and struck Dorchester County on the eastern shore just south of Taylor's Island. Across the county, 125 homes were damaged and 10 were destroyed, mainly in the Brownsville and Hallowing Point areas. County officials collected over 300 tons of downed trees and storm debris. | |||||||||||
| 26.0 | 2002-04-28 | 4 | 38°33'N / 77°11'W | 38°31'N / 76°41'W | 24.00 Miles | 650 Yards | 1 | 122 | 114.0M | 0 | Charles |
| Brief Description: A destructive tornado crossed the county from just north of Rison, through La Plata, to Benedict before moving into Calvert County. M51PH A massive tornadic storm tore through Central Charles and Calvert Counties between 7 and 8 PM EDT on the 28th. The tornadoes it produced left a 64 mile path of destruction ranging from F1 to F4 damage. Five people were killed, 122 were injured, and over $115 million in damage was reported. The tornadoes were spawned from a supercell thunderstorm that crossed the Potomac River from Prince William County. Up to 10 miles north of the path of the tornado, large hail up to 4.5 inches in diameter fell. Debris from the tornado was found as far away as southern Delaware. Wind damage was also reported near the path of the storm. Across Charles County, 638 homes were damaged, 100 homes were destroyed, 143 businesses (mainly in downtown La Plata) were damaged, and 49 businesses were destroyed. Countless trees and agricultural buildings were downed along the rural path of the storm. Three people were killed and at least 120 people were injured countywide, 12 critically. A 51-year-old man was killed and his wife was critically injured when their house under construction on Hawkins Gate Road, about 5 miles east of La Plata, collapsed. A 54-year-old man died in his car from an apparent heart attack at the intersection of Route 301 and Route 6 in downtown La Plata. The third victim, a 72-year-old woman, died of a heart attack in Waldorf after being frightened by the tornado. The tornado first touched down on the eastern edge of General Smallwood State Park just north of Rison. It pushed east-southeast and passed just south of Pisgah where it grew to F2 strength. The tornado moved through Mount Pisgah and damaged homes on Ripley Road between Ripley and Garden Estates. The twister continued to move east through rural lands south of Hawthorne Road (Route 255) passing just north of the community of Graystone. Next, it moved through the communities of Habre de Venture, Longmeade, Clamber Hill, Hawthorne Manor, and Hillendale about 3 miles west of downtown La Plata. The tornado, now F3 strength, hit the western portion of La Plata next, moving directly through the neighborhoods of Valley View, Morgan's Ridge, Quailwood, and Haldane. The tornado, now F4 strength, continued east into the downtown area where it crossed through the intersection of Route 301 and 6. Damage was found on either side of Route 6 with the most severe devastation occurring on the south side of the highway. The downtown business district was nearly wiped out after 65% of the buildings were either heavily damaged or destroyed. The 125-foot city water tower was also downed. The tornado continued its trek southeast of the downtown hospital into the northern portion of Clarks Run, across Route 6, and into the community of Ellenwood. The F4 tornado moved east of La Plata into the southern portion of Brynwood Farm Estates, then east across the Zekiah Swamp. Several homes at the end of Hawkins Gate Road were completely destroyed, and this was the location of one fatality and numerous injuries. Next, the tornado crossed Olivers Shop Road just north of the intersection of Route 231. It continued east through rural lands until it intersected Route 5 at Homeland Drive just south of Hughesville. East of Homeland Drive, it severely damaged the Girl Scout facility off Scout Camp Road. The tornado tracked east-southeast toward Benedict, remaining just south of Route 231 and weakening to F2 strength. It struck Colonial Lane and a home south of Benedict before crossing the river into Calvert County just south of the bridge. In Calvert County, the tornado first struck the community of Patuxent View just south of Route 231 at F2 strength. Over half of the homes in this development were damaged. One home with no foundation or anchoring just east of Patuxent View off Hallowing Point Road was picked up and thrown 80 feet into a culvert. A 68-year-old man and his 65-year-old wife who were taking shelter in the house were killed. The twister continued eastward along Sixes Road to the intersection of Adelina Road. Several homes and barns were damaged. From there it pushed east through the communities of Boyds Farm, Mutual Estates, and Chippingwood, where it damaged more property. It crossed Route 2/4 and 765 just north of St. Leonard, downing trees and it went. Finally, it crossed the Western Shores Estates development at F1 strength before it moved offshore. Another tornado formed on the Long Beach shoreline just north of Calvert Cliffs Power Plant. It downed trees before moving offshore. This tornado grew in strength as it crossed the bay and struck Dorchester County on the eastern shore just south of Taylor's Island. Across the county, 125 homes were damaged and 10 were destroyed, mainly in the Brownsville and Hallowing Point areas. County officials collected over 300 tons of downed trees and storm debris. | |||||||||||
| 27.1 | 1978-06-27 | 2 | 38°42'N / 76°40'W | 38°37'N / 76°35'W | 6.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Calvert |
| 27.5 | 1978-07-31 | 2 | 39°18'N / 77°04'W | 0.80 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Howard | |
| 30.4 | 1961-06-09 | 3 | 39°12'N / 76°37'W | 39°13'N / 76°36'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Anne Arundel | ||
| 30.4 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 39°08'N / 77°30'W | 0.50 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Loudoun | |
| 30.4 | 2004-09-17 | 2 | 38°37'N / 77°25'W | 38°35'N / 77°26'W | 4.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Prince William |
| Brief Description: A tornadic thunderstorm moved through central Prince William County. This is the same storm that produced damage earlier in Stafford County. The initial touchdown in Prince William County was west of Dale City, near Independent Hill and Dumfries Road. The storm snapped or uprooted many large hardwood trees. Some of the trees fell on houses and other structures. The storm lifted and then reformed for the second touchdown in Manassas. Several homes suffered roof and shingle damage. An automobile was moved several feet. Damaged also occurred in Manassas Park and in Yorkshire Village. This tornado continued north into Fairfax County. | |||||||||||
| 30.8 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 39°06'N / 77°32'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Loudoun | |
| 31.8 | 1978-01-26 | 3 | 38°30'N / 77°18'W | 0.70 Mile | 250 Yards | 1 | 10 | 250K | 0 | Prince William | |
| 34.1 | 1980-06-03 | 2 | 39°00'N / 77°40'W | 38°59'N / 77°37'W | 2.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Loudoun |
| 36.5 | 1993-09-27 | 2 | 38°47'N / 77°42'W | 38°49'N / 77°40'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 500K | 0 | Fauquier And Prince William |
| Brief Description: Thunderstorms moved through norther Virginia downing trees near Tanners and Madison in Madison County and across northern Culpeper County. A tornado touched down near New Baltimore, or about 2.5 miles east of Warrenton in Faquier County, and moved east into Prince William County to about 2 miles southwest of Manassas. The tornado ripped a barn roof off and blew a large business sign down as well as downing trees and power lines. There was significant structural damage to one home in the Nokesville area. Two people sustained minor injuries from flying debris. | |||||||||||
| 37.1 | 2002-04-28 | 2 | 38°30'N / 76°39'W | 38°29'N / 76°30'W | 14.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 2 | 0 | 10.0M | 0 | Calvert |
| Brief Description: A strong tornado crossed the Patuxent River from Charles County and moved east through central Calvert County. It tracked between Patuxent View and Western Shore Estates before moving onto the Chesapeake Bay. M68PH, F65PH A massive tornadic storm tore through Central Charles and Calvert Counties between 7 and 8 PM EDT on the 28th. The tornadoes it produced left a 64 mile path of destruction ranging from F1 to F4 damage. Five people were killed, 122 were injured, and over $115 million in damage was reported. The tornadoes were spawned from a supercell thunderstorm that crossed the Potomac River from Prince William County. Up to 10 miles north of the path of the tornado, large hail up to 4.5 inches in diameter fell. Debris from the tornado was found as far away as southern Delaware. Wind damage was also reported near the path of the storm. Across Charles County, 638 homes were damaged, 100 homes were destroyed, 143 businesses (mainly in downtown La Plata) were damaged, and 49 businesses were destroyed. Countless trees and agricultural buildings were downed along the rural path of the storm. Three people were killed and at least 120 people were injured countywide, 12 critically. A 51-year-old man was killed and his wife was critically injured when their house under construction on Hawkins Gate Road, about 5 miles east of La Plata, collapsed. A 54-year-old man died in his car from an apparent heart attack at the intersection of Route 301 and Route 6 in downtown La Plata. The third victim, a 72-year-old woman, died of a heart attack in Waldorf after being frightened by the tornado. The tornado first touched down on the eastern edge of General Smallwood State Park just north of Rison. It pushed east-southeast and passed just south of Pisgah where it grew to F2 strength. The tornado moved through Mount Pisgah and damaged homes on Ripley Road between Ripley and Garden Estates. The twister continued to move east through rural lands south of Hawthorne Road (Route 255) passing just north of the community of Graystone. Next, it moved through the communities of Habre de Venture, Longmeade, Clamber Hill, Hawthorne Manor, and Hillendale about 3 miles west of downtown La Plata. The tornado, now F3 strength, hit the western portion of La Plata next, moving directly through the neighborhoods of Valley View, Morgan's Ridge, Quailwood, and Haldane. The tornado, now F4 strength, continued east into the downtown area where it crossed through the intersection of Route 301 and 6. Damage was found on either side of Route 6 with the most severe devastation occurring on the south side of the highway. The downtown business district was nearly wiped out after 65% of the buildings were either heavily damaged or destroyed. The 125-foot city water tower was also downed. The tornado continued its trek southeast of the downtown hospital into the northern portion of Clarks Run, across Route 6, and into the community of Ellenwood. The F4 tornado moved east of La Plata into the southern portion of Brynwood Farm Estates, then east across the Zekiah Swamp. Several homes at the end of Hawkins Gate Road were completely destroyed, and this was the location of one fatality and numerous injuries. Next, the tornado crossed Olivers Shop Road just north of the intersection of Route 231. It continued east through rural lands until it intersected Route 5 at Homeland Drive just south of Hughesville. East of Homeland Drive, it severely damaged the Girl Scout facility off Scout Camp Road. The tornado tracked east-southeast toward Benedict, remaining just south of Route 231 and weakening to F2 strength. It struck Colonial Lane and a home south of Benedict before crossing the river into Calvert County just south of the bridge. In Calvert County, the tornado first struck the community of Patuxent View just south of Route 231 at F2 strength. Over half of the homes in this development were damaged. One home with no foundation or anchoring just east of Patuxent View off Hallowing Point Road was picked up and thrown 80 feet into a culvert. A 68-year-old man and his 65-year-old wife who were taking shelter in the house were killed. The twister continued eastward along Sixes Road to the intersection of Adelina Road. Several homes and barns were damaged. From there it pushed east through the communities of Boyds Farm, Mutual Estates, and Chippingwood, where it damaged more property. It crossed Route 2/4 and 765 just north of St. Leonard, downing trees and it went. Finally, it crossed the Western Shores Estates development at F1 strength before it moved offshore. Another tornado formed on the Long Beach shoreline just north of Calvert Cliffs Power Plant. It downed trees before moving offshore. This tornado grew in strength as it crossed the bay and struck Dorchester County on the eastern shore just south of Taylor's Island. Across the county, 125 homes were damaged and 10 were destroyed, mainly in the Brownsville and Hallowing Point areas. County officials collected over 300 tons of downed trees and storm debris. | |||||||||||
| 37.7 | 1973-06-16 | 2 | 39°20'N / 76°35'W | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Baltimore | |||
| 38.6 | 1978-07-31 | 2 | 39°24'N / 77°21'W | 1.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Frederick | |
| 39.5 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 38°20'N / 77°03'W | 2.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | King George | |
| 39.8 | 2004-09-17 | 2 | 38°42'N / 77°45'W | 38°52'N / 77°44'W | 13.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 750K | 0 | Fauquier |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado produced widespread structural damage to two subdivisions in northern Fauquier County. Some small items were turned into projectiles by this tornado and landed in trees and the sides of homes and some vehicles. There was substantial tree damage. Numerous large, healthy trees were uprooted and snapped. This is the third tornado of this event in Fauquier. | |||||||||||
| 40.3 | 1990-10-18 | 2 | 39°28'N / 76°49'W | 0.10 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 59 | 25.0M | 0 | Baltimore | |
| 40.7 | 1996-07-19 | 3 | 39°30'N / 76°59'W | 39°29'N / 76°57'W | 2.20 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 3 | 5.0M | 20K | Carroll |
| Brief Description: One of the most potent tornadoes in recorded history in the state of Maryland tracked for 2 and 1/4 miles through the Mystic Kane and Four Seasons subdivisions just off state route 32 northwest of Gamber. The tornado was a strong F3 (180 mph estimated winds) with multiple vortices. Homes and trees struck by individual vortices sustained the worst damage. There were several eyewitness accounts of the tornado/funnel cloud shortly before touchdown. In all, 66 structures sustained damage. Twelve single-family homes were destroyed, five which lost most of the second story and garages. Three persons were injured. Two children were injured when the tornado blew them out of the second level of one of the homes. Their father suffered cuts and bruises when a wall partially collapsed on him while he was trying the rescue the children. Another dozen homes were deemed temporarily uninhabitable with substantial roof and siding damage. An additional 37 homes, a couple of apartments, and another barn received some damage. Many material items were sucked out of the homes, from bicycles to jewelry. Several automobiles were damaged by fallen and/or flying debris. Debris littered the ground for miles. A barn along route 32 was completely destroyed, and pieces of it were found as far away as 3.5 miles to the southeast of the barn's original location. Dozens of trees were snapped, shredded, debarked, and uprooted. Corn stalks were sucked up leaving six inch stubs as the tornado crossed a field west of route 32. A corn stalk was embedded into the wall of a house 1/2 mile away from the stalk's original location. Numerous airborne missiles (large and small) were generated, puncturing holes into homes and becoming embedded into the ground. A refrigerator was found wrapped around a mailbox. A van was dragged 50 feet, then flipped over two times. Other vehicles were also damaged. | |||||||||||
| 41.8 | 1983-10-13 | 2 | 38°25'N / 76°33'W | 38°26'N / 76°32'W | 1.00 Mile | 37 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Calvert |
| 43.2 | 1983-10-13 | 2 | 38°22'N / 76°34'W | 38°25'N / 76°33'W | 3.00 Miles | 37 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Mary's |
| 44.6 | 2004-09-17 | 2 | 38°37'N / 77°47'W | 38°44'N / 77°48'W | 8.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Fauquier |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado touched down near Opal and tracked north. The tornado produced severe tree damage and some structural damage to several dwellings before dissipating near Warrenton. This is the second tornado of three tornadoes in Fauquier County associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ivan. | |||||||||||
| 45.1 | 2008-05-08 | 2 | 38°21'N / 77°31'W | 38°23'N / 77°28'W | 3.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10.0M | 0K | Stafford |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: An NWS Storm Survey determined that a low-end EF2 tornado struck the England Run North subdivision in Berea. The tornado damage began just south of Route 17 in Berea. There were 160 home damaged and nearly destroyed in the England Run subdivision, with 25 categorized as uninhabitable. The storm continued northeast, damaging buildings at a FedEx facility. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A strong low pressure system crossed the Mid Atlantic during the afternoon and evening hours of May 8th. This system along with warm temperatures and high dew points triggered numerous strong to severe showers and thunderstorms across the region. Two tornadoes occurred in central Virginia. Several storms produced damaging winds that downed trees and power lines in portions of northern and central Virginia. A few locations reported flooding as storms trained over the same area through the afternoon and evening. | |||||||||||
| 46.3 | 2004-09-17 | 2 | 39°24'N / 77°33'W | 39°24'N / 77°39'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5K | 0 | Frederick |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado touched down in far northwest Frederick County, on the northwest edge of Catoctin Mountain Park. A thickly forested stand of hardwood trees was snapped off above the bases. | |||||||||||
| 46.9 | 1979-05-23 | 2 | 39°35'N / 77°00'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Carroll | |
| 47.2 | 2004-09-08 | 2 | 38°32'N / 77°46'W | 38°34'N / 77°46'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Fauquier |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down 2 miles south of Bealeton and lifted a half mile south of Bealeton. The storm was 200 yards wide. The initial touchdown was near Morgansburg Road. The storm tracked north for 1.5 miles and produced significant damage to at least 2 homes. A roof was peeled off one home and some of the outside walls showed signs of bowing. At another dwelling, a garage door was blown into the garage and out of the sidewall. Several projectiles were lodged in the south side of the house. Three large green houses and some portable outhouses were also damaged. Two Ryder trucks were overturned. One truck fell on a small pickup, which sustained considerable damage. Maximum wind speeds were 115 to 130 mph. | |||||||||||
| 48.6 | 1996-07-19 | 2 | 39°23'N / 77°42'W | 39°21'N / 77°42'W | 2.00 Miles | 125 Yards | 0 | 0 | 400K | 75K | Washington |
| Brief Description: A moderate tornado (F2) tracked between two mountain ridges in extreme southern Washington Co, knocking down hundreds of trees, including several onto homes which caused substantial damage. At least one barn was completely destroyed in Yarrowsburg. The storm attained maximum strength just south of town (where the trees, including numerous hardwoods, were flattened). The tornado weakened considerably before dissipating along the eastern ridge. Structural and vehicle damage, though not as prevalent as the tree damage, included the following: Portions of roofs from two barns were blown off; minor residential damage, including shattered windows, unhinged shingles, and torn off trim/gutters. Some gravestones were overturned by the winds, and several power lines were knocked down. Several vehicles and vehicle windows were damaged. | |||||||||||
| 48.7 | 2004-09-17 | 3 | 38°31'N / 77°48'W | 38°38'N / 77°50'W | 9.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Fauquier |
| Brief Description: A strong tornado touched down in southern Fauquier County, near Remington. A home was pushed off its foundation. A new pickup truck was lifted and hurled 75 yards over trees and power lines. It crashed upside down in a field. | |||||||||||
| 49.4 | 1989-11-16 | 2 | 39°15'N / 77°47'W | 39°20'N / 77°48'W | 9.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Jefferson |
| 49.5 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 39°27'N / 76°25'W | 0.50 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Baltimore | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.