Rensselaer County, New York Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1863, 12 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rensselaer County, New York — about one every 13.6 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Isaias (2020), which passed 22 miles away on 4 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentIsaias (2020) — 22 mi away, 4 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1938) — 73 kt (84 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1876) — 6.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 12
- Peak monthAugust and September — 6 storms (50% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 1970s — 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 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias (2020) | 4 Aug 2020 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 25.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| David (1979) | 6 Sep 1979 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Able (1952) | 2 Sep 1952 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 29 Aug 1949 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 21 Sep 1938 | 24.4 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 19 Sep 1876 | 6.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | Post-tropical | 19 Aug 2021 | 1.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 11 Jul 2020 | 28.3 mi | 27 kt |
| Florence (2018) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2018 | 36.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1959 | 5.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 3 Oct 1929 | 45.8 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1924 | 29.9 mi | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | Post-tropical | 1 Nov 1899 | 16.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | Post-tropical | 24 Oct 1878 | 4.4 mi | 60 kt |
How Rensselaer 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, Rensselaer County, New York ranks #1,146 — more exposed than 48.1% of them. Within New York it ranks #16 of 61, against a state average of 8.0 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1938) passed 24 miles away on 21 September 1938 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed (August 1893) passed 20 miles away on 24 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed (August 1893) passed 28 miles away on 29 August 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Irene (2011) passed 26 miles away on 28 August 2011 as a tropical storm, reaching 51 kt (59 mph) while within 50 miles.
10 of the 12 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 13.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 12 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 45 years, between 1893 and 1938. It has been 5 years since the last one; 8 of the 10 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Rensselaer County, New York?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rensselaer County, New York at hurricane strength since 1863. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 12.
When was the last hurricane in Rensselaer County, New York?
Unnamed Storm (1938), on 21 September 1938, passing 24 miles away — 88 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Isaias (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Rensselaer County, New York?
Unnamed Storm (1938), which reached 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 24 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Rensselaer County, New York?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 13.6 years — 12 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
Rensselaer County, New York borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Berkshire County, Massachusetts has 16 on record.