Kent County, Delaware Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1861, 20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Kent County, Delaware — about one every 8.2 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 34 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 34 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1903) — 71 kt (82 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1886) — 5.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 20
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1990s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1861–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 26 Sep 1992 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 27.2 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 43.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 5.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 9.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 16 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 | 48.8 mi | 35 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 42.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 44.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Sandy (2012) | Post-tropical | 30 Oct 2012 | 42.5 mi | 62 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 16.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | Post-tropical | 29 Sep 2004 | 34.5 mi | 32 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 11.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 30.1 mi | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | Post-tropical | 15 Sep 1904 | 27.0 mi | 65 kt |
How Kent County, Delaware compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Kent County, Delaware ranks #781 — more exposed than 64.6% of them. Within Delaware it ranks #2 of 3, against a state average of 22.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1903) passed 43 miles away on 16 September 1903 as a hurricane, reaching 71 kt (82 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Irene (2011) passed 49 miles away on 28 August 2011 as a hurricane, reaching 62 kt (71 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 12 miles away on 13 July 1996 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1861) passed 23 miles away on 28 September 1861 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
19 of the 20 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 20 storms spread over the 165 years from 1861 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 36 years, between 1903 and 1939. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Kent County, Delaware?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Kent County, Delaware at hurricane strength since 1861. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 20.
When was the last hurricane in Kent County, Delaware?
Irene (2011), on 28 August 2011, passing 49 miles away — 15 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Kent County, Delaware?
Unnamed Storm (1903), which reached 71 kt (82 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 43 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Kent County, Delaware?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.2 years — 20 storms over the 165 years from 1861 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Kent County, Delaware borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Sussex County, Delaware has 31 on record.