Atlantic County, New Jersey Hurricane History
Since 1856, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Atlantic County, New Jersey — about one every 7.1 years. Of those, 5 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 20 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 20 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormDonna (1960) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1886) — 2.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles18 of 24
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1960 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 1960s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1856–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Fay (2020) | 10 Jul 2020 | 13.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 13.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 39.2 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 8.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 49.2 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 21.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 6.2 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 24 Sep 1897 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 34.2 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 40.9 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 2.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 24 Sep 1882 | 8.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 19.7 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 20 Aug 1856 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2021 | 41.3 mi | 37 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 29.2 mi | 40 kt |
| Sandy (2012) | Post-tropical | 30 Oct 2012 | 7.4 mi | 70 kt |
| Twenty-Two (2005) | Post-tropical | 14 Oct 2005 | 44.5 mi | 31 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 26.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | Post-tropical | 29 Sep 2004 | 46.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Charley (2004) | Post-tropical | 15 Aug 2004 | 46.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 2.8 mi | 25 kt |
How Atlantic County, New Jersey compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Atlantic County, New Jersey ranks #661 — more exposed than 70.1% of them. Within New Jersey it ranks #4 of 21, against a state average of 20.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Donna (1960) passed 49 miles away on 12 September 1960 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 39 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 82 kt (94 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 41 miles away on 24 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 78 kt (90 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1894) passed 34 miles away on 10 October 1894 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
23 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 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 36 years, between 1903 and 1939. It has been 4 years since the last one; 13 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Atlantic County, New Jersey?
5 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Atlantic County, New Jersey at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 24.
When was the last hurricane in Atlantic County, New Jersey?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 39 miles away — 41 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Atlantic County, New Jersey?
Donna (1960), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 49 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Atlantic County, New Jersey?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.1 years — 24 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
Atlantic County, New Jersey borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Ocean County, New Jersey has 30 on record.