Rockingham County, New Hampshire Hurricane History
Since 1858, 21 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rockingham County, New Hampshire — about one every 8.0 years. Of those, 5 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2004), which passed 29 miles away on 31 August 2004.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2004) — 29 mi away, 31 August 2004
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1869) — 90 kt (104 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1961) — 2.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles15 of 21
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (48% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1860s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1858–2004
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 14 Jul 1996 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Bob (1991) | 19 Aug 1991 | 40.5 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 39.5 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 2.1 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 13 Sep 1960 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 31 Jul 1960 | 20.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Able (1952) | 2 Sep 1952 | 13.5 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 19 Oct 1923 | 10.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 21 Jul 1916 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 31 May 1908 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 24 Sep 1897 | 10.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 4 Oct 1869 | 45.5 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 9 Sep 1869 | 13.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 3 Nov 1861 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1858) | 16 Sep 1858 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 15 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 | 26.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | Post-tropical | 7 Sep 2008 | 44.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 5 Jun 2007 | 30.3 mi | 34 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 17.7 mi | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1959 | 12.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Carol (1954) | Post-tropical | 31 Aug 1954 | 17.0 mi | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 10.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 9 Sep 1934 | 24.3 mi | 39 kt |
How Rockingham 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, Rockingham County, New Hampshire ranks #762 — more exposed than 65.5% of them. Within New Hampshire it ranks #2 of 10, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed (October 1869) passed 46 miles away on 4 October 1869 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed (September 1869) passed 13 miles away on 9 September 1869 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Bob (1991) passed 41 miles away on 19 August 1991 as a hurricane, reaching 72 kt (83 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 40 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 21 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 21 storms spread over the 168 years from 1858 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 29 years, between 1923 and 1952. It has been 21 years since the last one; 2 of the 17 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Rockingham County, New Hampshire?
5 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rockingham County, New Hampshire at hurricane strength since 1858. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 21.
When was the last hurricane in Rockingham County, New Hampshire?
Bob (1991), on 19 August 1991, passing 41 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 Rockingham County, New Hampshire?
Unnamed Storm (1869), which reached 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 46 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Rockingham County, New Hampshire?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.0 years — 21 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
Rockingham County, New Hampshire borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Essex County, Massachusetts has 27 on record.