Ellicott City, MD Tornado History — 114 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Ellicott City, MD had?
Ellicott City has had 114 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Ellicott City?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ellicott City was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Ellicott City?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ellicott City, with 34 on record. April through June account for 56 of the 114 tornadoes on record near Ellicott City.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Ellicott City
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 56 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Ellicott City since December 29, 2025
These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
EF-0 tornado confirmed. 439pm start 445pm end. Path 1.9 miles. Max width 90 yards. Peak wind 65 mph. (LWX)
A second tornado touched down along Lake Drive in the Arnold/Cape Saint Claire area for about a minute. Significant convergent tree damage was noted... along with the g (LWX)
EF0. Peak Wind 80 mph. Path Width 75 yards. Path length 0.3 miles. (LWX)
Within 25 miles of Ellicott City. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Ellicott City
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Ellicott City and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 16, 2025 and the most recent on June 19, 2025. They are already counted in the Ellicott City totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Odenton... MD at approximately 440 pm... with peak winds estimated at 80mph. Path length was 0.1 mile (LWX)
Corrected for time/date. NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Odenton... MD at approximately 215 pm... with peak winds estimated at 80mph. (LWX)
NWS storm survey can confirm a tornado touched down around Federal Hill in Baltimore City and tracked east before lifting in Dundalk. The tornado was given a preliminar (LWX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Ellicott City
4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Ellicott City since 1950, across 2 events. 139 injuries have been reported across all events. 2018 was the deadliest year on record near Ellicott City.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which caused 2 fatalities along a 17.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Ellicott City
What the record shows near Ellicott City
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Ellicott City, with 32 of the 114 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 19 so far. The Ellicott City record runs from the 1960s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Ellicott City, 101 reached EF0 or EF1 and 13 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Ellicott City is rated EF3, of which 3 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Ellicott City has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 56 in total. 2012 was the busiest of them with 9, and 1 of those years passed with none at all.