Maryland, 1997

Strong Wind in Maryland, February 27, 1997

February 27, 1997 · NWS LWX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Southerly wind gusts between 45 and 52 mph caused sporadic damage across portions of the northern tier of Maryland. In Hagerstown (MDZ003), a rubber and particle board roof was lifted from an apartment building; the heavier asphalt roof underneath was unharmed.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$15,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

Southerly wind gusts between 45 and 52 mph caused sporadic damage across portions of the northern tier of Maryland. In Hagerstown (MDZ003), a rubber and particle board roof was lifted from an apartment building; the heavier asphalt roof underneath was unharmed. Six small brush fires were ignited by the winds in northern Maryland and eastern West Virginia. The warm winds pushed maximum temperatures into the lower 80s, setting records for the date.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Allegany

When
February 27, 1:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Allegany forecast zone

Strong Wind, Washington

When
February 27, 1:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
39.604, -77.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Frederick

When
February 27, 1:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Frederick forecast zone
Coordinates
39.472, -77.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Carroll

When
February 27, 1:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Carroll forecast zone
Coordinates
39.563, -77.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maryland in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, February 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5591043, 5591044, 5591045, 5591046.