Gloucester County, New Jersey Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1861, 20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Gloucester County, New Jersey — about one every 8.2 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 29 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 29 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1903) — 70 kt (81 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBertha (1996) — 12.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 20
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year2020 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1990s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1861–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 28.7 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Fay (2020) | 10 Jul 2020 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 49.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 26 Sep 1992 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 30.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 32.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 19 Aug 1955 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 24 Sep 1882 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 13 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 | 14.6 mi | 36 kt |
| Sandy (2012) | Post-tropical | 30 Oct 2012 | 7.5 mi | 65 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 46.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 29.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 40.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | Post-tropical | 26 Jun 1968 | 47.5 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 19.6 mi | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 12.2 mi | 40 kt |
How Gloucester 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, Gloucester County, New Jersey ranks #794 — more exposed than 64.0% of them. Within New Jersey it ranks #12 of 21, against a state average of 20.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1903) passed 17 miles away on 16 September 1903 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Irene (2011) passed 46 miles away on 28 August 2011 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 12 miles away on 13 July 1996 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1861) passed 29 miles away on 28 September 1861 as a tropical storm, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
19 of the 20 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 20 storms spread over the 165 years from 1861 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 24 years, between 1915 and 1939. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 18 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Gloucester County, New Jersey?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Gloucester County, New Jersey at hurricane strength since 1861. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 20.
When was the last hurricane in Gloucester County, New Jersey?
Unnamed Storm (1903), on 16 September 1903, passing 17 miles away — 123 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isaias (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Gloucester County, New Jersey?
Unnamed Storm (1903), which reached 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 17 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Gloucester County, New Jersey?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.2 years — 20 storms over the 165 years from 1861 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Gloucester County, New Jersey borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Atlantic County, New Jersey has 24 on record.