Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut Hurricane History
Since 1851, 28 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut — about one every 6.2 years. Of those, 7 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Henri (2021), which passed 9 miles away on 22 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHenri (2021) — 9 mi away, 22 August 2021
- Strongest stormCarol (1954) — 100 kt (115 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1874) — 1.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1938) — 23.7 miles
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 28
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1851–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henri (2021) | 22 Aug 2021 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 7 Sep 2008 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 12.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Belle (1976) | 10 Aug 1976 | 11.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 26.4 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Carol (1954) | 31 Aug 1954 | 40.3 mi | Cat 2 | 93 kt |
| Able (1952) | 2 Sep 1952 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 21 Sep 1938 | 23.7 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 31 May 1908 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 24 Sep 1897 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 45.1 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 9.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 1.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 27 Oct 1872 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 3 Nov 1861 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1858) | 16 Sep 1858 | 41.4 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 19 Oct 1851 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 11 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here. Showing the 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence (2018) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2018 | 45.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 2000 | 36.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 14.9 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 16.8 mi | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 9 Sep 1934 | 9.1 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 43.6 mi | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | Post-tropical | 17 May 1916 | 31.4 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 5 Aug 1915 | 6.6 mi | 40 kt |
How Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut ranks #555 — more exposed than 74.9% of them. Within Connecticut it ranks #5 of 9, against a state average of 27.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Carol (1954) passed 40 miles away on 31 August 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1938) passed 24 miles away on 21 September 1938 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Donna (1960) passed 26 miles away on 12 September 1960 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 13 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
26 of the 28 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 28 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 30 years, between 1908 and 1938. It has been 4 years since the last one; 14 of the 25 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut?
7 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 28.
When was the last hurricane in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 13 miles away — 41 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Henri (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut?
Carol (1954), which reached 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 40 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.2 years — 28 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut has 31 on record.