Westchester County, New York Hurricane History
Since 1861, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Westchester County, New York — about one every 6.9 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fay (2020), which passed 26 miles away on 11 July 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFay (2020) — 26 mi away, 11 July 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1938) — 100 kt (115 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDoria (1971) — 4.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1938) — 45.1 miles
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 24
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1960s, 1970s 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 | 3 | 8 | 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 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2020) | 11 Jul 2020 | 26.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 28 Aug 2011 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 7 Sep 2008 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 13 Jul 1996 | 22.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 18 Aug 1994 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Gloria (1985) | 27 Sep 1985 | 36.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Belle (1976) | 10 Aug 1976 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 22 Jun 1972 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 28 Aug 1971 | 4.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 11 Sep 1968 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Diane (1955) | 19 Aug 1955 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Able (1952) | 1 Sep 1952 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 21 Sep 1938 | 45.1 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 9 Sep 1934 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 29 Aug 1893 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 24 Aug 1893 | 4.8 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 26 Oct 1872 | 28.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 19 Sep 1863 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 11 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 | 23.8 mi | 24 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 2000 | 47.8 mi | 25 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 8.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1945 | 10.4 mi | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 19 Jun 1934 | 44.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 11.5 mi | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 4 Aug 1915 | 7.1 mi | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | Post-tropical | 14 Oct 1900 | 33.3 mi | 33 kt |
How Westchester 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, Westchester County, New York ranks #662 — more exposed than 70.0% of them. Within New York it ranks #4 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 37 miles away on 27 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 5 miles away on 24 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1934) passed 39 miles away on 9 September 1934 as a tropical storm, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 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; 9 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Westchester County, New York?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Westchester County, New York at hurricane strength since 1861. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 24.
When was the last hurricane in Westchester County, New York?
Gloria (1985), on 27 September 1985, passing 37 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 Westchester 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 Westchester County, New York?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.9 years — 24 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
Westchester County, New York borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut has 29 on record.