Maryland runs from the Atlantic Coast to the Chesapeake Bay and north to the state of Pennsylvania. That makes for a wide variety of climate and weather events.
In this article, we’ll look specifically at average wind speed followed by thunderstorm wind speeds and their impacts on your home.
Windiest Cities and Towns in Maryland: Average Wind Speed
We’ve reviewed the average wind speed information at City-Data to find the top 20 cities in Maryland for the highest average wind speed. We’ve chosen only those cities with populations of 6,000 or more.
| # | City | MPH |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean City | 9.4 |
| 2 | Oxon Hill – Glassmanor | 9.4 |
| 3 | Suitland – Silver Hill | 9.4 |
| 4 | Walker Mill | 9.4 |
| 5 | Hillcrest Heights | 9.3 |
| 6 | Mount Rainier | 9.3 |
| 7 | Temple Hills | 9.3 |
| 8 | Bladensburg | 9.3 |
| 9 | Coral Hills | 9.3 |
| 10 | Cheverly | 9.3 |
| 11 | Greater Landover | 9.3 |
| 12 | Ocean Pines | 9.3 |
| 13 | Camp Springs | 9.3 |
| 14 | District Heights | 9.3 |
| 15 | Hyattsville | 9.3 |
| 16 | Forestville | 9.3 |
| 17 | East Riverdale | 9.3 |
| 18 | Fort Washington | 9.3 |
| 19 | Riverdale Park | 9.3 |
| 20 | Friendly | 9.3 |
Windiest Cities and Towns in Maryland: Thunderstorm Winds
Average wind speed can tell us a great deal about local conditions, but thunderstorm winds can really show what can happen with high winds in Maryland. We’ve reviewed NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information’s Storm Events Database. In the range of Nov. 1, 2019, to Nov. 30, 2020, they identified 24 places affected. Here are the top 20 ranked by recorded wind speed.
| # | City | MPH |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olney, Montgomery County | 75 |
| 2. | Middlebrook, Montgomery County | 70 |
| 3. | Pomfret, Charles County | 70 |
| 4. | Riva, Anne Arundel County | 70 |
| 5. | Galena, Kent County | 69 |
| 6. | Sams Creek, Frederick County | 65 |
| 7. | Denton, Caroline County | 65 |
| 8. | American Corners, Caroline County | 65 |
| 9. | Baltimore Martin Street, Baltimore County | 65 |
| 10. | Darnestown, Montgomery County | 65 |
| 11. | Crofton, Anne Arundel County | 65 |
| 12. | Marley, Anne Arundel County | 65 |
| 13. | Bryantown, Queen Anne’s County | 63 |
| 14. | Unionville, Frederick County | 61 |
| 15. | Hillville, St. Mary’s County | 61 |
| 16. | Appeal, Calvert County | 61 |
| 17. | Cavetown, Washington County | 61 |
| 18. | Gaithersburg, Montgomery County | 61 |
| 19. | Mullinix, Carroll County | 60 |
| 20. | Derwood, Montgomery County | 60 |
The 75-mph winds in Olney on April 13, 2020, caused $500,000 in property damage when hundreds of trees were uprooted and fell onto houses and cars. The 70-mph winds in Middlebrook on Feb. 7, 2020, toppled trees, snapped light poles, and blew a shed apart on the campus of Montgomery College.
Winds in Our Hometown
Baltimore’s average winds are 8.8 mph. The big wind event was a thunderstorm on July 6, 2020, that damaged part of the roof on the helicopter hangar at Martin State Regional Airport.
Impact on Your Home from Winds and Storms
The National Weather Service has built a wind estimation scale designed to provide observers with a way to judge wind speed. Here are the details.
As you can tell, strong winds can do a great deal of damage to trees, utility lines, signs, and homes. Plus, the flying debris can cause still further damage.
We’re hopeful that high winds won’t damage your home’s foundation. Even so, rainwater driven by wind can find its way into your basement or crawl space if there are any cracks or if the water accumulates around your home.
We recommend that you consult the professionals at JES Foundation Repair for a free inspection and repair estimate to identify any issues with your basement or crawl space that need attention in preparation for heavy winds, rains, and flooding.
