NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Arlington, VT
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
19 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Arlington, Vermont since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 19 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 17
- Tornadoes
- 19
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Arlington
The strongest storm to pass near Arlington was Gloria in 1985, a Category 1 hurricane with 79 mph winds when its centre passed 58 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1938, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Arlington begins with an unnamed storm in 1866; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 23 miles away. The 1890s and the 1970s were the busiest decades, with 3 systems each. Of the 19 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Arlington has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 64% of the 75 Vermont cities on this site. The highest rating among the 19 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on May 31, 1998, came within 12 miles. Of the 19, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 8 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 7. The most recent tornado was on August 29, 2020. Arlington has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 88% of the 75 Vermont cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 26 times since 1960, with stones up to 3.25 inches. Of the 75 Vermont cities, 63% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Arlington.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Arlington
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 58 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | AbleSep 2 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 5 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormOct 1 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Arlington: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Arlington
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s1
- 2000s5
- 1990s5(1 EF3+)
- 1980s1
- 1970s1
- 1960s3(1 EF3+)
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | 12 mi | 30.5 mi | 0 / 68 |
| Aug 20, 1968 | F3 | 19 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 5, 2002 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1973 | F2 | 20 mi | 2.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 29, 1969 | F2 | 8 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 22, 1955 | F2 | 8 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 29, 2020 | EF1 | 24 mi | 2.17 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 2020 | EF1 | 17 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 2019 | EF1 | 23 mi | 0.75 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 14 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 3 mi | 25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 25 mi | 4.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 19, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Arlington
The Storm Prediction Center has 26 hail reports within 10 miles of Arlington since 1960, made on 22 separate days. Of these, 18 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 3.25 inches, fell on June 1, 2011. The most recent report is from July 21, 2022. June has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Arlington
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Sunderland 2, VT, 3 miles southeast of Arlington at 900 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 81°F and low of 55°F; January is the coolest, at 32°F and 11°F. June is the wettest at 4.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 46.9 inches over 95 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (25.2 of 46.9 inches); the other six months are drier. August has brought the most of the 19 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (7); a normal August there has highs of 79°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 3 days a year, almost all from July. Lows fall below freezing on about 164 nights a year. Snowfall averages 75.2 inches a year, most of it in January. That 46.9 inches is more than at 27 of the 33 Vermont stations used on this site (82%). Cambridge, NY, 12 miles southwest, has its own station (Bennington Morse St Airport, VT): 38.8 inches a year, 8.1 less than here, and the same July average high, 81°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32 | 11 | 3.5 | 8 | 18.5 |
| Feb | 35 | 12 | 2.8 | 6 | 16.4 |
| Mar | 43 | 20 | 3.4 | 8 | 14.0 |
| Apr | 57 | 31 | 3.5 | 8 | 4.1 |
| May | 69 | 42 | 4.1 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 77 | 51 | 4.8 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 81 | 55 | 4.6 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 79 | 54 | 4.3 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 73 | 46 | 3.7 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 60 | 36 | 4.5 | 9 | 0.7 |
| Nov | 48 | 28 | 3.3 | 7 | 4.1 |
| Dec | 37 | 19 | 4.4 | 8 | 17.4 |
| Year | 58 | 34 | 46.9 | 95 | 75.2 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Sunderland 2, VT (900 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Arlington
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 113 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Arlington: 88 thunderstorm wind reports, 18 floods, 6 flash floods and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $920,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on July 1, 2017. July has had the most flash floods, 6 of 6. Of the 74 Vermont cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 10 have had fewer than Arlington.
July 29, 2021: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Arlington — $200,000 damage.
NWS: “The Town of Sandgate suffered major impact from flash flooding. Culverts damaged portions of Sandgate Road, West Sandgate Road and Baldwin Brook.”
July 29, 2021: flash flood 2 miles from the centre of Arlington — $200,000 damage.
NWS: “The Town of Manchester suffered major impact from flash flooding. Bently Hill Road and Rootville Road were destroyed.”
July 10, 2023: flood 8 miles from the centre of Arlington — $200,000 damage.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Flood insurance policyholders in Arlington's ZIP code 05250 have filed 13 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 2011, and were paid $188,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Irene in 2011: 11 claims (85% of all) and $185,000. 85% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 43 Vermont cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 6 have fewer than Arlington.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene2011 | 11 | $185,000 |
Bennington County, which includes Arlington, has been named in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 floods, 6 severe storms, 3 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, on July 14, 2023. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Bennington County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Very Low for tornadoes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $18.8 million a year, the 5th highest of 14 Vermont counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $11.6 million (62%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Arlington
- Manchester Center, VT8 mi
- Salem, NY11 mi
- Cambridge, NY12 mi
- North Bennington, VT12 mi
- Bennington, VT15 mi
- Greenwich, NY17 mi
- Argyle, NY17 mi
- Hoosick Falls, NY18 mi
- Granville, NY20 mi
- Schuylerville, NY21 mi
- Johnsonville, NY21 mi
- Wilmington, VT22 mi
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