Effects of Hurricane Isabel in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Hurricane Isabel

Storm surge flooding caused by Isabel in Bowleys Quarters, Maryland
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	60 mph (95 km/h)
Lowest pressure	988 mbar (hPa); 29.18 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	1 direct
Damage	$820 million (2003 USD)
Areas affected	Maryland, Washington, D.C.
Part of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season
Part of a series on Hurricane Isabel
Effects United States North Carolina Virginia Maryland and Washington, D.C. Delaware Pennsylvania New Jersey New York and New England Other wikis Commons: Isabel images

In Maryland and Washington, D.C., the effects of Hurricane Isabel were among the most damaging from a tropical cyclone in the respective metropolitan area. Hurricane Isabel formed from a tropical wave on September 6, 2003, in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. It moved northwestward, and within an environment of light wind shear and warm waters, it steadily strengthened to reach peak winds of 165 miles per hour (266 km/h) on September 11. After fluctuating in intensity for four days, Isabel gradually weakened and made landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with winds of 105 miles per hour (169 km/h) on September 18. It quickly weakened over land and became extratropical over western Pennsylvania the next day.

On September 19, Tropical Storm Isabel passed through extreme western Maryland, though its large circulation produced tropical storm force winds throughout the state.^[1] About 1.24 million people lost power throughout the state. The worst of its effects came from its storm surge, which inundated areas along the coast and resulted in severe beach erosion. On the Eastern Shore, hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed, primarily in Queen Anne's County from tidal flooding. Thousands of houses were affected in Central Maryland, with severe storm surge flooding reported in Baltimore and Annapolis. Washington, D.C., sustained moderate damage, primarily from the winds. Throughout Maryland and Washington, damage totaled about $820 million (equivalent to $1.36 billion in 2023),^[1] with only one fatality due to flooding.