Dukes County, Massachusetts Hurricane History
Since 1869, 20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dukes County, Massachusetts — about one every 7.8 years. Of those, 8 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 40 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 40 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormEdna (1954) — 95 kt (109 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1896) — 4.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 20
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (35% of all)
- Most active year1888 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 1950s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1869–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Beryl (2006) | 21 Jul 2006 | 28.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Hermine (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Bob (1991) | 19 Aug 1991 | 35.5 mi | Cat 1 | 81 kt |
| Carrie (1972) | 3 Sep 1972 | 49.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Esther (1961) | 26 Sep 1961 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 11 Jul 1959 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 19 Aug 1955 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Edna (1954) | 11 Sep 1954 | 10.5 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 15 Sep 1944 | 38.0 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 26 Aug 1924 | 39.2 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 19 Oct 1923 | 7.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 21 Jul 1916 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 10 Sep 1896 | 4.5 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 25 Sep 1889 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 12 Oct 1888 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 26 Sep 1888 | 28.9 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 19 Aug 1879 | 5.3 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 27 Oct 1872 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 4 Oct 1869 | 11.9 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 21 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 | 17.2 mi | 40 kt |
| Henri (2021) | Remnant low | 24 Aug 2021 | 41.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | Post-tropical | 8 Sep 2016 | 24.2 mi | 22 kt |
| Ana (2015) | Remnant low | 12 May 2015 | 35.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 41.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 4 Jun 2007 | 40.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 9 Jul 2005 | 26.6 mi | 28 kt |
| Charley (2004) | Post-tropical | 15 Aug 2004 | 24.2 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | Post-tropical | 15 Sep 1904 | 21.9 mi | 73 kt |
How Dukes County, Massachusetts compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Dukes County, Massachusetts ranks #788 — more exposed than 64.3% of them. Within Massachusetts it ranks #12 of 14, against a state average of 24.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Edna (1954) passed 11 miles away on 11 September 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Bob (1991) passed 36 miles away on 19 August 1991 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1869) passed 12 miles away on 4 October 1869 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1944) passed 38 miles away on 15 September 1944 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
18 of the 20 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 20 storms spread over the 157 years from 1869 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 20 years, between 1896 and 1916. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 18 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Dukes County, Massachusetts?
8 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dukes County, Massachusetts at hurricane strength since 1869. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 20.
When was the last hurricane in Dukes County, Massachusetts?
Bob (1991), on 19 August 1991, passing 36 miles away — 35 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Dukes County, Massachusetts?
Edna (1954), which reached 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 11 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Dukes County, Massachusetts?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.8 years — 20 storms over the 157 years from 1869 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Dukes County, Massachusetts borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Nantucket County, Massachusetts has 31 on record.