South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut Hurricane History
Since 1858, 31 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut — about one every 5.4 years. Of those, 8 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 39 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 39 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1938) — 105 kt (121 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1938) — 3.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1938) — 3.3 miles
- Passes within 25 miles15 of 31
- Peak monthSeptember — 16 storms (52% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1858–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 38.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 7 Sep 2008 | 10.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 4.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 11.4 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Henri (1985) | 24 Sep 1985 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Belle (1976) | 10 Aug 1976 | 12.0 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 7.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 22.7 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 19 Aug 1955 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Carol (1954) | 31 Aug 1954 | 42.7 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 15 Sep 1944 | 42.7 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 21 Sep 1938 | 3.3 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 9 Sep 1934 | 10.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 30 May 1908 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 24 Sep 1897 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 17.8 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 41.4 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 30.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 24 Sep 1882 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 15.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 3 Nov 1861 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1858) | 16 Sep 1858 | 42.7 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 14 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 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2021 | 47.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Henri (2021) | Remnant low | 23 Aug 2021 | 9.1 mi | 21 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 41.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 2000 | 21.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 21.6 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 32.5 mi | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 34.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 43.7 mi | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | Post-tropical | 5 Oct 1877 | 40.8 mi | 60 kt |
How South Central Connecticut 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, South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut ranks #494 — more exposed than 77.6% of them. Within Connecticut it ranks #2 of 9, against a state average of 27.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1938) passed 3 miles away on 21 September 1938 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Carol (1954) passed 43 miles away on 31 August 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1944) passed 43 miles away on 15 September 1944 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Donna (1960) passed 23 miles away on 12 September 1960 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
29 of the 31 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 31 storms spread over the 168 years from 1858 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 26 years, between 1908 and 1934. It has been 4 years since the last one; 15 of the 27 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut?
8 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut at hurricane strength since 1858. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 31.
When was the last hurricane in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 11 miles away — 41 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut?
Unnamed Storm (1938), which reached 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 3 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.4 years — 31 storms over the 168 years from 1858 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
South Central Connecticut 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.