Hampden County, Massachusetts Hurricane History
Since 1858, 26 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hampden County, Massachusetts — about one every 6.5 years. Of those, 6 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Henri (2021), which passed 29 miles away on 22 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHenri (2021) — 29 mi away, 22 August 2021
- Strongest stormCarol (1954) — 93 kt (107 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBelle (1976) — 5.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 26
- Peak monthSeptember — 14 storms (54% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 1960s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1858–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 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 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 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 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 7 Sep 2008 | 45.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 18.4 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Belle (1976) | 10 Aug 1976 | 5.1 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 42.1 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Carol (1954) | 31 Aug 1954 | 45.9 mi | Cat 2 | 93 kt |
| Able (1952) | 2 Sep 1952 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 21 Sep 1938 | 19.4 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 24 Sep 1897 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 34.7 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 19 Sep 1876 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1858) | 16 Sep 1858 | 49.8 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 2021 | 39.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Florence (2018) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2018 | 34.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 18.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1959 | 46.1 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 15.5 mi | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 9 Sep 1934 | 20.4 mi | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1924 | 31.3 mi | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | Post-tropical | 17 May 1916 | 46.0 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | Post-tropical | 24 Oct 1878 | 45.1 mi | 57 kt |
How Hampden County, Massachusetts compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Hampden County, Massachusetts ranks #612 — more exposed than 72.3% of them. Within Massachusetts it ranks #7 of 14, against a state average of 24.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Carol (1954) passed 46 miles away on 31 August 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 93 kt (107 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1938) passed 19 miles away on 21 September 1938 as a hurricane, reaching 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 18 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Donna (1960) passed 42 miles away on 12 September 1960 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
24 of the 26 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 26 storms spread over the 168 years from 1858 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 41 years, between 1897 and 1938. It has been 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 23 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Hampden County, Massachusetts?
6 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hampden County, Massachusetts at hurricane strength since 1858. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 26.
When was the last hurricane in Hampden County, Massachusetts?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 18 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 Hampden County, Massachusetts?
Carol (1954), which reached 93 kt (107 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 46 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Hampden County, Massachusetts?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.5 years — 26 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
Hampden County, Massachusetts borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut has 28 on record.