Sussex County, Delaware Hurricane History
Since 1856, 31 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Sussex County, Delaware — about one every 5.5 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 13 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 13 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormGloria (1985) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBrenda (1960) — 2.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles15 of 31
- Peak monthSeptember — 14 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year1882 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 2000s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1856–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 48.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Fay (2020) | 10 Jul 2020 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 31.4 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 21.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 18 Sep 2004 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 17 Jun 2001 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 26 Sep 1992 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 49.0 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 21.0 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 2.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 15 Sep 1904 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 36.5 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 36.9 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 23 Oct 1893 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 2 Jul 1886 | 32.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 10.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 12 Sep 1882 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 18.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 27 Sep 1861 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 20 Aug 1856 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | Post-tropical | 29 Oct 2020 | 20.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Ana (2015) | Remnant low | 12 May 2015 | 40.2 mi | 29 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 23.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 14.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | Post-tropical | 29 Sep 2004 | 4.7 mi | 32 kt |
| Charley (2004) | Post-tropical | 15 Aug 2004 | 46.8 mi | 37 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 18.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 21 Oct 1944 | 31.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 14.7 mi | 63 kt |
How Sussex County, Delaware compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Sussex County, Delaware ranks #496 — more exposed than 77.5% of them. Within Delaware it ranks #1 of 3, against a state average of 22.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Gloria (1985) passed 49 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1903) passed 37 miles away on 16 September 1903 as a hurricane, reaching 74 kt (85 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1894) passed 37 miles away on 10 October 1894 as a hurricane, reaching 71 kt (82 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Irene (2011) passed 31 miles away on 28 August 2011 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
30 of the 31 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 31 storms spread over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025. 4 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 35 years, between 1904 and 1939. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 26 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Sussex County, Delaware?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Sussex County, Delaware at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 31.
When was the last hurricane in Sussex County, Delaware?
Irene (2011), on 28 August 2011, passing 31 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 Sussex County, Delaware?
Gloria (1985), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 49 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Sussex County, Delaware?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.5 years — 31 storms over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Sussex County, Delaware borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Worcester County, Maryland has 36 on record.