Nantucket County, Massachusetts Hurricane History
Since 1856, 31 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Nantucket County, Massachusetts — about one every 5.5 years. Of those, 10 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2006), which passed 0 miles away on 21 July 2006.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2006) — 0 mi away, 21 July 2006
- Strongest stormGerda (1969) — 105 kt (121 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBeryl (2006) — 0.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Gerda (1969) — 45.6 miles
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 31
- Peak monthSeptember — 12 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year1888 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1856–2006
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2006) | 21 Jul 2006 | 0.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Hermine (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 25 Jul 1997 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Alberto (1988) | 7 Aug 1988 | 33.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Alfa (1973) | 1 Aug 1973 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Carrie (1972) | 3 Sep 1972 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Gerda (1969) | 9 Sep 1969 | 45.6 mi | Cat 3 | 105 kt |
| Alma (1962) | 29 Aug 1962 | 41.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Esther (1961) | 26 Sep 1961 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 11 Jul 1959 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 19 Aug 1955 | 21.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Edna (1954) | 11 Sep 1954 | 21.9 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 19 Sep 1936 | 37.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 26 Aug 1924 | 16.8 mi | Cat 1 | 79 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 19 Oct 1923 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1917) | 10 Aug 1917 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 10 Sep 1896 | 26.7 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 1 Oct 1894 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 25 Sep 1889 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 12 Oct 1888 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 26 Sep 1888 | 8.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 23 Sep 1885 | 28.9 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 12 Sep 1882 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 11 Sep 1881 | 27.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 19 Aug 1879 | 31.6 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 19 Sep 1876 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 15 Oct 1875 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 30 Aug 1871 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 4 Oct 1869 | 20.7 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 21 Aug 1856 | 41.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanda (2021) | Post-tropical | 27 Oct 2021 | 32.0 mi | 59 kt |
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2021 | 6.2 mi | 40 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | Post-tropical | 8 Sep 2016 | 7.3 mi | 22 kt |
| Ana (2015) | Remnant low | 12 May 2015 | 8.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 9 Jul 2005 | 2.8 mi | 28 kt |
| Allison (2001) | Post-tropical | 18 Jun 2001 | 19.9 mi | 30 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 2000 | 39.2 mi | 28 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 9 Oct 1996 | 15.2 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | Post-tropical | 27 Nov 1888 | 38.6 mi | 80 kt |
How Nantucket County, Massachusetts compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Nantucket County, Massachusetts ranks #503 — more exposed than 77.2% of them. Within Massachusetts it ranks #1 of 14, against a state average of 24.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Gerda (1969) passed 46 miles away on 9 September 1969 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Edna (1954) passed 22 miles away on 11 September 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1869) passed 21 miles away on 4 October 1869 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1924) passed 17 miles away on 26 August 1924 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
23 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. 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 21 years, between 1896 and 1917. It has been 19 years since the last one; 1 of the 29 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Nantucket County, Massachusetts?
10 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Nantucket County, Massachusetts at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 31.
When was the last hurricane in Nantucket County, Massachusetts?
Gerda (1969), on 9 September 1969, passing 46 miles away — 57 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Beryl (2006) in 2006.
What was the strongest storm to affect Nantucket County, Massachusetts?
Gerda (1969), which reached 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 46 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Nantucket County, Massachusetts?
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
Nantucket County, Massachusetts borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Bristol County, Massachusetts has 28 on record.