NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Belgrade, ME
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
31 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Belgrade, Maine since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Irene in 2011. Since 1950, 18 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 28
- Tornadoes
- 18
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Belgrade
The strongest storm to pass near Belgrade was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 1 hurricane with 87 mph winds when its centre passed 6 miles away. The record near Belgrade begins with an unnamed storm in 1858; the most recent system was Irene in 2011, a tropical storm 74 miles away. Of the 31 systems, one has come since 2000. Of the 160 Maine cities on this site, 38% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Belgrade. The highest rating among the 18 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 7 times; the most recent, on August 9, 2000, came within 25 miles. Of the 18, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and one has come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 9. Belgrade has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 60% of the 160 Maine cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 28 times since 1961, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 160 Maine cities, 51% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Belgrade.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Belgrade
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | IreneAug 29 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 14 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 20 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1971 | HeidiSep 14 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | EstherSep 26 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 13 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 31 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 66 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 31 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 17 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 11 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 30 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 23 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormOct 5 | 6 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 9 | 20 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Belgrade: 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 Belgrade
By decade
- 2000s1
- 1990s2
- 1980s1
- 1970s5
- 1960s5
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2000 | F2 | 25 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 1996 | F2 | 16 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 7, 1971 | F2 | 18 mi | 4.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 31, 1971 | F2 | 10 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 31, 1971 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 31, 1971 | F2 | 21 mi | 1.9 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 4, 1961 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1997 | F1 | 6 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1989 | F1 | 20 mi | 1.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1973 | F1 | 23 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 1968 | F1 | 18 mi | 2.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 1967 | F1 | 7 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 18, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Belgrade
The Storm Prediction Center has 28 hail reports within 10 miles of Belgrade since 1961, made on 18 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on August 30, 2007. The most recent report is from June 13, 2022. June has the most reports, 15.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Belgrade
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Waterville Trtmt Plt, ME, 9 miles east of Belgrade at 73 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 80°F and low of 59°F; January is the coolest, at 29°F and 9°F. October is the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 43.3 inches over 84 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (23.4 of 43.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 31 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (14); a normal September there has highs of 72°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 6 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 164 nights a year. That 43.3 inches is more than at 10 of the 47 Maine stations used on this site (21%). Readfield, 10 miles southwest, has its own station (Augusta State Airport, ME): 41.8 inches a year, 1.5 less than here, and the same July average high, 80°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | 9 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Feb | 32 | 10 | 2.6 | 6 |
| Mar | 40 | 21 | 3.3 | 6 |
| Apr | 54 | 32 | 3.7 | 7 |
| May | 66 | 43 | 3.3 | 8 |
| Jun | 75 | 53 | 4.0 | 8 |
| Jul | 80 | 59 | 3.4 | 8 |
| Aug | 80 | 57 | 3.4 | 7 |
| Sep | 72 | 50 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Oct | 59 | 38 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Nov | 46 | 29 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Dec | 35 | 17 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Year | 55 | 35 | 43.3 | 84 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Waterville Trtmt Plt, ME (73 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 Belgrade
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 79 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Belgrade: 50 thunderstorm wind reports, 27 floods, 1 flash flood and 1 lightning strike. They killed 1 person and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $440,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 85 mph, on June 30, 2021.
June 30, 2021: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Belgrade — 1 killed, $200,000 damage.
NWS: “A severe thunderstorm passed through the Belgrade Lakes region on Wednesday afternoon, producing a wet microburst. Estimated wind speeds varied from 60 mph up to 90 mph.”
December 18, 2023: flood 9 miles from the centre of Belgrade — $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
Kennebec County, which includes Belgrade, has been named in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1970, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 severe storms, 6 floods, 4 hurricanes, 3 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storm and Flooding, on January 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Kennebec County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for hail and coastal flooding; Very Low for tornadoes and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $37.5 million a year, the 4th highest of 16 Maine counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $21.5 million (57%), 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 Belgrade
- Oakland, ME6 mi
- Readfield, ME10 mi
- Augusta, ME11 mi
- Vassalboro, ME11 mi
- Waterville, ME12 mi
- Fairfield, ME12 mi
- Manchester, ME13 mi
- Winthrop, ME14 mi
- Norridgewock, ME14 mi
- Hallowell, ME14 mi
- South China, ME16 mi
- Farmingdale, ME16 mi
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