Richmond County, New York Hurricane History
Since 1861, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Richmond County, New York — about one every 7.5 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fay (2020), which passed 8 miles away on 11 July 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFay (2020) — 8 mi away, 11 July 2020
- Strongest stormGloria (1985) — 77 kt (89 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBertha (1996) — 4.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 22
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (50% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1960s and 1970s — 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 | 6 | 11 | 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 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2020) | 11 Jul 2020 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 7 Sep 2008 | 17.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 16 Sep 1999 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 44.2 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Belle (1976) | 10 Aug 1976 | 43.9 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 22 Jun 1972 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 15.9 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 18.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 19 Aug 1955 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 15.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 24 Sep 1882 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 11.7 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 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 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 2021 | 25.2 mi | 38 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 2000 | 32.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 29 Aug 1988 | 22.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | Post-tropical | 26 Jun 1968 | 31.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 22.9 mi | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 16.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 22.3 mi | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 4 Aug 1915 | 24.9 mi | 50 kt |
How Richmond 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, Richmond County, New York ranks #727 — more exposed than 67.1% of them. Within New York it ranks #9 of 61, against a state average of 8.0 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Gloria (1985) passed 44 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 16 miles away on 24 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Belle (1976) passed 44 miles away on 10 August 1976 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Bertha (1996) passed 5 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. 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 49 years, between 1903 and 1952. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 21 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Richmond County, New York?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Richmond 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 Richmond County, New York?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 44 miles away — 41 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Fay (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Richmond County, New York?
Gloria (1985), which reached 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 44 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Richmond 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
Richmond County, New York borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Queens County, New York has 27 on record.