NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Burlington, CT
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
50 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Burlington, Connecticut since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Henri in 2021. Since 1950, 66 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 41
- Tornadoes
- 66
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Burlington
The strongest storm to pass near Burlington was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 3 hurricane with 114 mph winds when its centre passed 69 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1938, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Burlington begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Henri in 2021, a tropical storm 52 miles away. The 1860s and the 1890s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 50 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site, 76% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Burlington. The strongest of the 66 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on October 3, 1979; its path came within 17 miles, and it killed 3 people. Of the 66, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 26 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 21. The most recent tornado was on June 21, 2024. Burlington has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 92% of the 186 Connecticut cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 85 times since 1962, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Burlington has more hail reports within 10 miles than 91% of the 186 Connecticut cities.
Compare Burlington's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Burlington
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | HenriAug 22 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 5 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 22 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | overhead | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 40 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 55 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 68 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | overhead | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 30 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 74 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 27 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 69 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 54 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 68 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 Burlington: 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 Burlington
By decade
- 2020s8
- 2010s12
- 2000s6
- 1990s6
- 1980s4
- 1970s15(2 EF3+)
- 1960s6(1 EF3+)
- 1950s9
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 1979 | F4 | 17 mi | 11.3 mi | 3 / 500 |
| May 24, 1962 | F3 | 11 mi | 11.6 mi | 1 / 50 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | F3 | 15 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jun 23, 2001 | F2 | 9 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 14 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 70 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 15 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Jul 5, 1984 | F2 | 5 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 1976 | F2 | 19 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 1973 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 6, 1973 | F2 | 22 mi | 3.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 31, 1973 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1973 | F2 | 13 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 66, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Burlington
The Storm Prediction Center has 85 hail reports within 10 miles of Burlington since 1962, made on 45 separate days. Of these, 36 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently June 26, 2009. The most recent report is from August 26, 2024. July has the most reports, 26.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Burlington
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Burlington, CT, 3 miles north of Burlington at 505 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 84°F and low of 62°F; January is the coolest, at 36°F and 17°F. October is the wettest at 5.7 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 53.5 inches over 85 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (28.9 of 53.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 50 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (21); a normal September there has highs of 75°F and 5.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 13 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 142 nights a year. Snowfall averages 38.6 inches a year, most of it in February. That 53.5 inches is more than at 24 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (89%). Harwinton, 6 miles west, has its own station (Bakersville, CT): 54.3 inches a year, 0.8 more than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 84°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36 | 17 | 3.7 | 7 | 11.1 |
| Feb | 39 | 18 | 3.4 | 7 | 11.8 |
| Mar | 47 | 26 | 4.2 | 7 | 5.5 |
| Apr | 60 | 36 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.5 |
| May | 70 | 47 | 4.2 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 4.8 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 84 | 62 | 4.4 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 82 | 60 | 5.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 75 | 53 | 5.0 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 63 | 41 | 5.7 | 7 | 0.6 |
| Nov | 52 | 32 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.8 |
| Dec | 41 | 24 | 4.8 | 8 | 8.3 |
| Year | 61 | 39 | 53.5 | 85 | 38.6 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Burlington, CT (505 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 Burlington
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 225 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Burlington: 167 thunderstorm wind reports, 29 flash floods, 25 floods and 4 lightning strikes. They killed 2 people and injured 9, and the NWS estimated $11.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on July 15, 1997. September has had the most flash floods, 13 of 29. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 96 have had fewer than Burlington.
August 28, 2011: flood 6 miles from the centre of Burlington — 1 killed, $8.0 million damage.
October 15, 2005: flood 3 miles from the centre of Burlington — 1 killed, $500,000 damage.
June 11, 2000: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Burlington — 8 injured.
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
Hartford County, which includes Burlington, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 8 snowstorms, 6 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Isaias, on January 12, 2021.
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).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.