Hampshire County, Massachusetts Hurricane History
Since 1861, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hampshire County, Massachusetts — about one every 7.5 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Henri (2021), which passed 41 miles away on 23 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHenri (2021) — 41 mi away, 23 August 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1938) — 86 kt (99 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAble (1952) — 0.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 22
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (50% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 4 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 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henri (2021) | 23 Aug 2021 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 33.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 20.2 mi | Cat 1 | 71 kt |
| Belle (1976) | 10 Aug 1976 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 41.4 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 48.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Able (1952) | 2 Sep 1952 | 0.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 21 Sep 1938 | 28.1 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 27.6 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 19 Sep 1876 | 17.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 48.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 11 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 | 25.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Florence (2018) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2018 | 33.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 29.9 mi | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1959 | 32.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 13.7 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 9 Sep 1934 | 27.2 mi | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1924 | 20.4 mi | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 5 Aug 1915 | 38.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | Post-tropical | 24 Oct 1878 | 31.3 mi | 57 kt |
How Hampshire County, Massachusetts compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Hampshire County, Massachusetts ranks #719 — more exposed than 67.4% of them. Within Massachusetts it ranks #11 of 14, against a state average of 24.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1938) passed 28 miles away on 21 September 1938 as a hurricane, reaching 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 20 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Donna (1960) passed 49 miles away on 12 September 1960 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 31 miles away on 24 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 22 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 22 storms spread over the 165 years from 1861 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 44 years, between 1894 and 1938. It has been 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Hampshire County, Massachusetts?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hampshire County, Massachusetts at hurricane strength since 1861. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 22.
When was the last hurricane in Hampshire County, Massachusetts?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 20 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 Hampshire County, Massachusetts?
Unnamed Storm (1938), which reached 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 28 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Hampshire County, Massachusetts?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.5 years — 22 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
Hampshire County, Massachusetts borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Worcester County, Massachusetts has 26 on record.