Salem County, New Jersey Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1861, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Salem County, New Jersey — about one every 9.7 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 24 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 24 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1903) — 70 kt (81 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBertha (1996) — 17.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 17
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1860s, 1870s, 1880s and 1990s — 2 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 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 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 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 24.3 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 22.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 17.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Danielle (1992) | 26 Sep 1992 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 33.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 18 Aug 1955 | 46.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 3 Aug 1944 | 44.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 19 Aug 1939 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Aug 1915 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 29.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Jun 1886 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 23 Sep 1882 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 20.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 12 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 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2021 | 20.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Sandy (2012) | Post-tropical | 30 Oct 2012 | 8.7 mi | 62 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 8 Jul 2005 | 42.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 29.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 45.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 1945 | 17.0 mi | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 15.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 37.2 mi | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | Post-tropical | 15 Sep 1904 | 37.9 mi | 65 kt |
How Salem 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, Salem County, New Jersey ranks #910 — more exposed than 58.8% of them. Within New Jersey it ranks #18 of 21, against a state average of 20.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1903) passed 30 miles away on 16 September 1903 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 17 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 36 miles away on 28 September 1861 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Isaias (2020) passed 24 miles away on 4 August 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
16 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 storms spread over the 165 years from 1861 to 2025. 0 separate years 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 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Salem County, New Jersey?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Salem County, New Jersey at hurricane strength since 1861. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 17.
When was the last hurricane in Salem County, New Jersey?
Unnamed Storm (1903), on 16 September 1903, passing 30 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 Salem County, New Jersey?
Unnamed Storm (1903), which reached 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 30 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Salem County, New Jersey?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.7 years — 17 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
Salem County, New Jersey borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Camden County, New Jersey has 21 on record.