Maryland strong wind risk
Montgomery County has the highest strong wind risk in Maryland, scoring 96.6 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montgomery County | 96.6 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 2 | Baltimore | 96.2 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 3 | Baltimore County | 95.8 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 4 | Prince George's County | 95.8 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 5 | Carroll County | 94.3 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 6 | Anne Arundel County | 91.1 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 7 | Howard County | 89 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 8 | Cecil County | 85.3 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 9 | Frederick County | 80.4 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 10 | Harford County | 78 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 11 | Charles County | 77.3 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 12 | Allegany County | 73.7 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 13 | Washington County | 67.9 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 14 | Caroline County | 66.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 15 | St. Mary's County | 65.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 16 | Calvert County | 48.6 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 17 | Queen Anne's County | 48.5 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 18 | Talbot County | 47.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 19 | Dorchester County | 44.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 20 | Kent County | 40.6 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 21 | Wicomico County | 36.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 22 | Somerset County | 35.9 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 23 | Worcester County | 32.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 24 | Garrett County | 31.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Strong Wind risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Maryland:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest strong wind risk county in Maryland?
Montgomery County, MD has the highest strong wind risk in Maryland, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.6 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes strong wind risk in Maryland?
Strong wind risk covers non-convective, non-tropical sustained high winds — including derechos and general high-wind events, but excluding tornado and hurricane winds. High scores appear in mountain passes, coastal headlands, and open plains where topography amplifies wind speeds. Damage concentrates on utility infrastructure, trees, and lightweight structures.