Putnam County, New York Hurricane History
Since 1861, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Putnam County, New York — about one every 7.5 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 50 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 50 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1938) — 100 kt (115 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1863) — 5.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1938) — 44.6 miles
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 22
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1970s and 1990s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- 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 | 8 | 10 | 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 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 7 Sep 2008 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 14.4 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 38.0 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Belle (1976) | 10 Aug 1976 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 22 Jun 1972 | 25.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 15.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 38.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 21 Sep 1938 | 44.6 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 9 Sep 1934 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 7.9 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 19.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 33.7 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henri (2021) | Remnant low | 23 Aug 2021 | 5.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 11 Jul 2020 | 24.1 mi | 30 kt |
| Florence (2018) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2018 | 43.6 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 17.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 9.1 mi | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 27.9 mi | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 4 Aug 1915 | 12.5 mi | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | Post-tropical | 14 Oct 1900 | 42.6 mi | 32 kt |
How Putnam County, New York compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Putnam County, New York ranks #726 — more exposed than 67.1% of them. Within New York it ranks #8 of 61, against a state average of 8.0 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1938) passed 45 miles away on 21 September 1938 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 38 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 8 miles away on 24 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 72 kt (83 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 34 miles away on 13 July 1996 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
19 of the 22 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 22 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 41 years, between 1893 and 1934. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 20 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Putnam County, New York?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Putnam County, New York at hurricane strength since 1861. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 22.
When was the last hurricane in Putnam County, New York?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 38 miles away — 41 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isaias (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Putnam County, New York?
Unnamed Storm (1938), which reached 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 45 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Putnam County, New York?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.5 years — 22 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
Putnam County, New York borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut has 26 on record.