NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Cape May Court House, NJ
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
61 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Cape May Court House, New Jersey since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 14 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 11
- Tropical storms
- 50
- Tornadoes
- 14
- 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 Cape May Court House
The strongest storm to pass near Cape May Court House was an unnamed storm in 1944, a Category 2 hurricane with 108 mph winds when its centre passed 59 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1904, whose centre came within 6 miles. The record near Cape May Court House begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 61 miles away. The 1880s and the 1900s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 61 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Cape May Court House has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 82% of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site. The highest rating among the 14 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 3 times; the most recent, on July 21, 1987, came within 23 miles. Of the 14, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 5 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 5. The most recent tornado was on July 9, 2021. Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 100% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Cape May Court House. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 13 times since 1977, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 98% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Cape May Court House.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Cape May Court House
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | FayJul 10 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | SandyOct 29 | 31 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | Twenty-TwoOct 14 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 29 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | GastonAug 31 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 15 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1992 | DanielleSep 26 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1986 | CharleyAug 18 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 35 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 58 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 49 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 21 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 14 | 59 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 3 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 8 | 61 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 6 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 7 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 14 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 28 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 30 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 23 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 50 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 23 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 12 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 10 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 18 | 46 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 2 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 20 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Cape May Court House: 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 Cape May Court House
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s1
- 2000s2
- 1990s1
- 1980s4
- 1970s3
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 1987 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Aug 27, 1971 | F2 | 2 mi | 28.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 1956 | F2 | 12 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 9, 2021 | EF1 | 11 mi | 0.94 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF1 | 13 mi | 4.24 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 5, 2001 | F1 | 21 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 16, 1995 | F1 | 4 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 6, 1979 | F1 | 6 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 7, 2019 | EF0 | 23 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 2003 | F0 | 4 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 1989 | F0 | 16 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 23, 1986 | F0 | 10 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 14, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Cape May Court House
The Storm Prediction Center has 13 hail reports within 10 miles of Cape May Court House since 1977, made on 10 separate days. Of these, 7 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently May 16, 2025. The most recent report is from May 16, 2025.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Cape May Court House
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Cape May 2 NW, NJ, 10 miles southwest of Cape May Court House at 20 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 86°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 43°F and 29°F. October is the wettest at 4.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 43.9 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (22.7 of 43.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 61 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (26); a normal September there has highs of 79°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 15 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 72 nights a year. Snowfall averages 14.8 inches a year, most of it in February. That 43.9 inches is more than at 6 of the 51 New Jersey stations used on this site (12%). Sea Isle City, 9 miles northeast, has its own station (Estell Manor, NJ): 50.4 inches a year, 6.5 more than here, and a July average high of 87°F against 86°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Cape May, NJ, 10 miles southwest, averaged 75°F in August and 40°F in January over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Cape May tide gauge, 10 miles from Cape May Court House, has risen 2.01 ± 0.09 inches per decade from 1965 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 20.1 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 120 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43 | 29 | 3.2 | 6 | 4.5 | 40 |
| Feb | 45 | 29 | 3.0 | 6 | 5.7 | 40 |
| Mar | 52 | 35 | 4.1 | 7 | 2.5 | 47 |
| Apr | 62 | 44 | 3.3 | 7 | 0.1 | 53 |
| May | 71 | 54 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.0 | 60 |
| Jun | 80 | 63 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.0 | 69 |
| Jul | 86 | 68 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.0 | 73 |
| Aug | 84 | 67 | 4.0 | 5 | 0.0 | 75 |
| Sep | 79 | 62 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.0 | 74 |
| Oct | 68 | 51 | 4.2 | 6 | 0.0 | 66 |
| Nov | 57 | 41 | 3.3 | 6 | 0.0 | 54 |
| Dec | 48 | 33 | 4.0 | 7 | 2.0 | 44 |
| Year | 65 | 48 | 43.9 | 76 | 14.8 | 58 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Cape May 2 NW, NJ (20 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Cape May, NJ, from NOAA Tides & Currents. 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 Cape May Court House
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 128 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Cape May Court House: 58 thunderstorm wind reports, 29 heavy rain events, 18 floods, 14 flash floods and 9 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 6, and the NWS estimated $30.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on October 9, 2007. July has had the most flash floods, 7 of 14. Of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 37 have had fewer than Cape May Court House.
August 1, 2012: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Cape May Court House — 4 injured.
July 21, 2015: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Cape May Court House — 2 injured.
NWS: “9 at a construction site. One officer was taken to the Atlantic City Medical Center.”
April 2, 2005: flood 6 miles from the centre of Cape May Court House — $30.0 million 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 Cape May Court House's ZIP code 08210 have filed 423 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $5.3 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Sandy in 2012: 126 claims (30% of all) and $3.4 million, then Flooding in 1980 with 100 and December Storm - Nor'easter in 1992 with 26. 76% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 395 New Jersey cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 320 have fewer than Cape May Court House.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Sandy2012 | 126 | $3.4 million |
| Flooding1980 | 100 | $585,000 |
| December Storm - Nor'easter1992 | 26 | $200,000 |
| Hurricane Gloria1985 | 26 | $241,000 |
| Winter Storm Jonas2016 | 13 | $110,000 |
Cape May County, which includes Cape May Court House, has been named in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 6 snowstorms, 5 severe storms, 4 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on September 5, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Cape May County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding and strong wind; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Low for tornadoes; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $99.7 million a year, the 15th highest of 21 New Jersey counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $38.9 million (39%), 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 Cape May Court House
- Rio Grande, NJ5 mi
- Wildwood, NJ7 mi
- Villas, NJ7 mi
- Sea Isle City, NJ9 mi
- Cape May, NJ9 mi
- Ocean View, NJ11 mi
- Woodbine, NJ13 mi
- Leesburg, NJ14 mi
- Marmora, NJ16 mi
- Port Norris, NJ17 mi
- Ocean City, NJ18 mi
- Somers Point, NJ21 mi
All New Jersey cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Cape May Court House with another place →