NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Canaan, 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
29 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Canaan, New Hampshire since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 17 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 26
- Tornadoes
- 17
- 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 Canaan
The strongest storm to pass near Canaan was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 1 hurricane with 87 mph winds when its centre passed 63 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Gloria in 1985, whose centre came within 25 miles. The record near Canaan begins with an unnamed storm in 1858; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 59 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 5 systems. Of the 29 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 142 New Hampshire cities on this site, 76% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Canaan. The strongest of the 17 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on August 25, 1969; its path came within 21 miles. Of the 17, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 4 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 8. The most recent tornado was on July 16, 2024. Of the 142 New Hampshire cities, 88% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Canaan. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 17 times since 2008, with stones up to 3 inches (tea cup size). Of the 142 New Hampshire cities, 92% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Canaan.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Canaan
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 5 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 25 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 13 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 31 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 35 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 22 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 31 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 9 | 63 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Canaan: 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 Canaan
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s2
- 2000s1
- 1990s2
- 1970s6
- 1960s4(1 EF3+)
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 1969 | F3 | 21 mi | 5.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 1973 | F2 | 7 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 11, 1966 | F2 | 24 mi | 9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 16, 2024 | EF1 | 13 mi | 1.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 2011 | EF1 | 1 mi | 2.69 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 13, 1999 | F1 | 9 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 1995 | F1 | 20 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 1978 | F1 | 19 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 1972 | F1 | 20 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1972 | F1 | 7 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1972 | F1 | in town | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 14, 1963 | F1 | 12 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 17, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Canaan
The Storm Prediction Center has 17 hail reports within 10 miles of Canaan since 2008, made on 11 separate days. Of these, 13 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 3 inches (tea cup size), fell on June 22, 2008. The most recent report is from May 17, 2025. June has the most reports, 8.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Canaan
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Grafton, NH, 7 miles southeast of Canaan at 830 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 80°F and low of 54°F; January is the coolest, at 29°F and 7°F. October is the wettest at 4.5 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 40.2 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 55% of the year's precipitation (22.2 of 40.2 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 29 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (13); a normal September there has highs of 71°F and 3.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 5 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 199 nights a year. That 40.2 inches is more than at 4 of the 39 New Hampshire stations used on this site (10%). Lebanon, 12 miles west, has its own station (Lebanon Municipal Airport, NH): 38.0 inches a year, 2.2 less than here, and a July average high of 83°F against 80°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | 7 | 2.9 | 7 |
| Feb | 32 | 7 | 2.6 | 5 |
| Mar | 40 | 17 | 3.1 | 7 |
| Apr | 54 | 28 | 3.2 | 6 |
| May | 66 | 40 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Jun | 75 | 50 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Jul | 80 | 54 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Aug | 78 | 53 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Sep | 71 | 45 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Oct | 58 | 33 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Nov | 45 | 25 | 3.1 | 7 |
| Dec | 34 | 15 | 3.0 | 6 |
| Year | 55 | 31 | 40.2 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Grafton, NH (830 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 Canaan
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 31 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Canaan: 20 thunderstorm wind reports, 6 floods and 5 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $2.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 60 mph, on June 29, 2021. Of the 141 New Hampshire cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 39 have had fewer than Canaan.
October 30, 2017: flash flood 10 miles from the centre of Canaan — $1.0 million damage.
August 28, 2011: flood 8 miles from the centre of Canaan — $600,000 damage.
July 2, 2013: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Canaan — $500,000 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 Canaan's ZIP code 03741 have filed 11 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1992, and were paid $86,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 45% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 60 New Hampshire cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 2 have fewer than Canaan.
Grafton County, which includes Canaan, 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 Canaan
- Enfield, NH6 mi
- Grantham, NH11 mi
- Lebanon, NH12 mi
- Rumney, NH12 mi
- Hanover, NH13 mi
- Bristol, NH14 mi
- West Lebanon, NH15 mi
- Norwich, VT15 mi
- New London, NH17 mi
- White River Junction, VT18 mi
- Andover, NH19 mi
- New Hampton, NH19 mi
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