Middlesex County, Massachusetts Hurricane History
Since 1851, 27 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Middlesex County, Massachusetts — about one every 6.5 years. Of those, 7 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2004), which passed 38 miles away on 31 August 2004.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2004) — 38 mi away, 31 August 2004
- Strongest stormCarol (1954) — 93 kt (107 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBertha (1996) — 3.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 27
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (48% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1990s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2004
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 10.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 14 Jul 1996 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 19 Aug 1994 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Bob (1991) | 19 Aug 1991 | 36.1 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 47.8 mi | Cat 1 | 71 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 14.2 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 6.6 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Carol (1954) | 31 Aug 1954 | 10.5 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Able (1952) | 2 Sep 1952 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 15 Sep 1944 | 38.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 19 Oct 1923 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 21 Jul 1916 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 31 May 1908 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 24 Sep 1897 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 10 Sep 1896 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 19 Sep 1876 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 18.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 27 Oct 1872 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 8 Sep 1869 | 26.4 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 3 Nov 1861 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1858) | 16 Sep 1858 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 19 Oct 1851 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henri (2021) | Remnant low | 24 Aug 2021 | 41.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Fred (2021) | Post-tropical | 20 Aug 2021 | 10.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | Post-tropical | 9 Jul 2021 | 38.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 41.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | Post-tropical | 7 Sep 2008 | 24.3 mi | 45 kt |
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 5 Jun 2007 | 30.9 mi | 35 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 20.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1959 | 30.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | Post-tropical | 17 May 1916 | 11.6 mi | 50 kt |
How Middlesex County, Massachusetts compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Middlesex County, Massachusetts ranks #585 — more exposed than 73.5% of them. Within Massachusetts it ranks #4 of 14, against a state average of 24.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Carol (1954) passed 11 miles away on 31 August 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 93 kt (107 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1869) passed 26 miles away on 8 September 1869 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Bob (1991) passed 36 miles away on 19 August 1991 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 48 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
27 of the 27 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 27 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 24 years, between 1961 and 1985. It has been 21 years since the last one; 1 of the 24 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
7 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Middlesex County, Massachusetts at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 27.
When was the last hurricane in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
Bob (1991), on 19 August 1991, passing 36 miles away — 35 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hermine (2004) in 2004.
What was the strongest storm to affect Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
Carol (1954), which reached 93 kt (107 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 11 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.5 years — 27 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Middlesex County, Massachusetts borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Essex County, Massachusetts has 27 on record.