Hunterdon County, New Jersey Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1863, 15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hunterdon County, New Jersey — about one every 10.9 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 25 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 25 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormBertha (1996) — 60 kt (69 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1915) — 7.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 15
- Peak monthAugust — 7 storms (47% of all)
- Most active year2020 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1870s, 1950s and 2020s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1863–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Fay (2020) | 11 Jul 2020 | 34.2 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 7 Sep 2008 | 44.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 33.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 19 Aug 1955 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 32.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 8 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.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2021 | 36.8 mi | 37 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 2.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | Post-tropical | 26 Jun 1968 | 4.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 18.7 mi | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 35.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 41.1 mi | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | Post-tropical | 1 Nov 1899 | 21.0 mi | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1866) | Post-tropical | 30 Oct 1866 | 43.2 mi | 53 kt |
How Hunterdon 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, Hunterdon County, New Jersey ranks #989 — more exposed than 55.2% of them. Within New Jersey it ranks #19 of 21, against a state average of 20.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 33 miles away on 13 July 1996 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1903) passed 13 miles away on 16 September 1903 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1874) passed 42 miles away on 29 September 1874 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Isaias (2020) passed 25 miles away on 4 August 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
14 of the 15 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 15 storms spread over the 163 years from 1863 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 37 years, between 1915 and 1952. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 13 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Hunterdon County, New Jersey?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Hunterdon County, New Jersey while at hurricane strength. 15 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1863, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Bertha (1996).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Hunterdon County, New Jersey?
Isaias (2020), on 4 August 2020, passing 25 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Hunterdon County, New Jersey at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Hunterdon County, New Jersey?
Bertha (1996), which reached 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 33 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Hunterdon County, New Jersey?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.9 years — 15 storms over the 163 years from 1863 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Hunterdon County, New Jersey borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Morris County, New Jersey has 20 on record.