Cheshire County, New Hampshire Hurricane History
Since 1858, 18 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Cheshire County, New Hampshire — about one every 9.3 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Irene (2011), which passed 28 miles away on 28 August 2011.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIrene (2011) — 28 mi away, 28 August 2011
- Strongest stormCarol (1954) — 86 kt (99 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDoria (1971) — 9.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles6 of 18
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (56% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 1960s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1858–2011
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 28.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 22.7 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Belle (1976) | 10 Aug 1976 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Carol (1954) | 31 Aug 1954 | 44.1 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Able (1952) | 2 Sep 1952 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 21 Sep 1938 | 42.7 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 19 Sep 1876 | 27.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 38.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1858) | 16 Sep 1858 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 9 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 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | Post-tropical | 20 Aug 2021 | 15.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 47.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1959 | 12.7 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 30.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 9 Sep 1934 | 23.5 mi | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1924 | 48.2 mi | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | Post-tropical | 14 Oct 1900 | 29.1 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | Post-tropical | 1 Nov 1899 | 25.4 mi | 45 kt |
How Cheshire County, New Hampshire compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Cheshire County, New Hampshire ranks #859 — more exposed than 61.1% of them. Within New Hampshire it ranks #6 of 10, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Carol (1954) passed 44 miles away on 31 August 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1938) passed 43 miles away on 21 September 1938 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 23 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1858) passed 48 miles away on 16 September 1858 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
16 of the 18 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 18 storms spread over the 168 years from 1858 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 44 years, between 1894 and 1938. It has been 14 years since the last one; 2 of the 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Cheshire County, New Hampshire?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Cheshire County, New Hampshire at hurricane strength since 1858. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 18.
When was the last hurricane in Cheshire County, New Hampshire?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 23 miles away — 41 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Irene (2011) in 2011.
What was the strongest storm to affect Cheshire County, New Hampshire?
Carol (1954), which reached 86 kt (99 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 44 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Cheshire County, New Hampshire?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.3 years — 18 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
Cheshire County, New Hampshire borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Worcester County, Massachusetts has 26 on record.