NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bethlehem, NH
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
23 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bethlehem, New Hampshire since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 9 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 21
- Tornadoes
- 9
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Bethlehem
The strongest storm to pass near Bethlehem was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 1 hurricane with 83 mph winds when its centre passed 62 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Carol in 1954, whose centre came within 24 miles. The record near Bethlehem begins with an unnamed storm in 1858; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 59 miles away. The 1890s and the 1960s were the busiest decades, with 4 systems each. Of the 23 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 142 New Hampshire cities on this site, 89% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Bethlehem. The strongest of the 9 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on August 25, 1969; its path came within 23 miles. Of the 9, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 3 have come since 2000. The most recent tornado was on June 18, 2018. Of the 142 New Hampshire cities, 94% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Bethlehem. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 24 times since 1976, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 142 New Hampshire cities, 85% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Bethlehem.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bethlehem
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 5 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 29 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 13 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 31 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 24 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 9 | 62 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bethlehem: 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 Bethlehem
By decade
- 2010s3
- 1980s2
- 1970s1
- 1960s3(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 1969 | F3 | 23 mi | 5.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 11, 1966 | F2 | 19 mi | 9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 1982 | F1 | 10 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 2018 | EF0 | 14 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 2018 | EF0 | 14 mi | 9.45 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 2010 | EF0 | 25 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1988 | F0 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 1973 | F0 | 25 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 1964 | F0 | 17 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 9 of 9, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Bethlehem
The Storm Prediction Center has 24 hail reports within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1976, made on 17 separate days. Of these, 14 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently July 18, 2006. The most recent report is from June 19, 2024. June has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Bethlehem
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bethlehem 2, NH, 2 miles northeast of Bethlehem at 1,180 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 80°F and low of 53°F; January is the coolest, at 28°F and 3°F. July is the wettest at 4.6 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.0 inches; the year adds up to 41.0 inches over 93 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (23.6 of 41.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 23 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (9); a normal September there has highs of 72°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 3 days a year, almost all from June. Lows fall below freezing on about 191 nights a year. Snowfall averages 100.9 inches a year, most of it in December. That 41.0 inches is more than at 7 of the 39 New Hampshire stations used on this site (18%). Whitefield, 8 miles northeast, has its own station (Whitefield Mt Washington Airport, NH): 37.1 inches a year, 3.9 less than here, and the same July average high, 80°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | 3 | 2.6 | 7 | 21.3 |
| Feb | 30 | 4 | 2.0 | 5 | 21.5 |
| Mar | 40 | 14 | 2.6 | 6 | 16.7 |
| Apr | 53 | 27 | 3.2 | 8 | 5.4 |
| May | 67 | 39 | 3.7 | 8 | 0.4 |
| Jun | 76 | 48 | 4.2 | 10 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 80 | 53 | 4.6 | 10 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 79 | 50 | 4.2 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 72 | 42 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 58 | 32 | 4.0 | 8 | 1.6 |
| Nov | 45 | 24 | 3.0 | 7 | 7.1 |
| Dec | 33 | 12 | 3.3 | 8 | 26.9 |
| Year | 55 | 29 | 41.0 | 93 | 100.9 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Bethlehem 2, NH (1,180 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 Bethlehem
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 145 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bethlehem: 88 thunderstorm wind reports, 29 flash floods and 28 floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $2.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on October 10, 2020. July has had the most flash floods, 20 of 29. Of the 141 New Hampshire cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 134 have had fewer than Bethlehem.
May 26, 2011: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Bethlehem — $750,000 damage.
May 26, 2011: flash flood 10 miles from the centre of Bethlehem — $716,000 damage.
July 1, 2017: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Bethlehem — $335,000 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
Grafton County, which includes Bethlehem, has been named in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 29 of them major disasters (by incident: 17 severe storms, 8 floods, 6 hurricanes, 5 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storm and Flooding, on August 20, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Grafton County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for tornadoes and hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $50.4 million a year, the 3rd highest of 10 New Hampshire counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $43.0 million (85%), 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 Bethlehem
- Littleton, NH6 mi
- Whitefield, NH8 mi
- Lisbon, NH10 mi
- Lancaster, NH16 mi
- Woodsville, NH17 mi
- St Johnsbury, VT18 mi
- Danville, VT24 mi
- Lyndonville, VT24 mi
- Thornton, NH25 mi
- Groveton, NH25 mi
- Gorham, NH27 mi
- Campton, NH27 mi
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