NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Columbia, 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
53 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Columbia, Connecticut since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 39 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 11
- Tropical storms
- 42
- Tornadoes
- 39
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Columbia
The strongest storm to pass near Columbia was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 3 hurricane with 113 mph winds when its centre passed 36 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Donna in 1960, whose centre came within 10 miles. The record near Columbia begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 63 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1960s, with 5 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 53 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Columbia has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 53% of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site. The strongest of the 39 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on October 3, 1979; its path came within 23 miles, and it killed 3 people. Of the 39, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 14 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 12. The most recent tornado was on August 18, 2023. Of the 186 Connecticut cities, 61% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Columbia. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 36 times since 1959, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Columbia has more hail reports within 10 miles than 53% of the 186 Connecticut cities.
Compare Columbia's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Columbia
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | HenriAug 22 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | HermineAug 31 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 49 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 29 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 10 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 21 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 2 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 41 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 33 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 30 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 50 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 60 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 69 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 36 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 21 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 34 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 Columbia: 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 Columbia
By decade
- 2020s4
- 2010s7
- 2000s3
- 1990s4
- 1980s2
- 1970s5(1 EF3+)
- 1960s4
- 1950s10(2 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 1979 | F4 | 23 mi | 11.3 mi | 3 / 500 |
| May 10, 1954 | F3 | 18 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F3 | 14 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Sep 6, 1973 | F2 | 11 mi | 3.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 31, 1973 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 19, 1965 | F2 | 16 mi | 6.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 7, 1958 | F2 | 14 mi | 1.3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F2 | 17 mi | 43.9 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Aug 20, 1951 | F2 | 12 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 1950 | F2 | 17 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF1 | 9 mi | 2.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 4, 2019 | EF1 | 7 mi | 3.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 39, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Columbia
The Storm Prediction Center has 36 hail reports within 10 miles of Columbia since 1959, made on 27 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 24, 1999. The most recent report is from September 8, 2023. June has the most reports, 16.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Columbia
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Willimantic Windham Airport, CT, 6 miles northeast of Columbia at 247 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 83°F and low of 62°F; January is the coolest, at 36°F and 18°F. August is the wettest at 4.4 inches of precipitation on average and February and July the driest at 2.7 inches; the year adds up to 43.5 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 (22.5 of 43.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 53 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (22); a normal September there has highs of 74°F and 4.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 11 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 135 nights a year. That 43.5 inches is more than at 4 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (15%). Andover, 5 miles northwest, has its own station (Storrs, CT): 49.3 inches a year, 5.8 more than here, and a July average high of 81°F against 83°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36 | 18 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Feb | 39 | 19 | 2.7 | 6 |
| Mar | 47 | 27 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Apr | 59 | 37 | 4.0 | 7 |
| May | 70 | 47 | 3.4 | 8 |
| Jun | 78 | 56 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Jul | 83 | 62 | 2.7 | 6 |
| Aug | 81 | 60 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Sep | 74 | 52 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Oct | 63 | 41 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Nov | 52 | 31 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Dec | 41 | 24 | 3.7 | 7 |
| Year | 60 | 40 | 43.5 | 76 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Willimantic Windham Airport, CT (247 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 Columbia
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 175 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Columbia: 122 thunderstorm wind reports, 29 floods, 17 flash floods, 6 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 1 person and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $831,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on July 14, 2022. September has had the most flash floods, 12 of 17. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 57 have had fewer than Columbia.
June 26, 2024: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Columbia — 1 killed, $500 damage.
July 2, 2012: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Columbia — 1 injured, $10,000 damage.
August 15, 2012: lightning strike 9 miles from the centre of Columbia — 1 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
Flood insurance policyholders in Columbia's ZIP code 06237 have filed 14 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $29,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 29% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 128 Connecticut cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 14 have fewer than Columbia.
Tolland County, which includes Columbia, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 14 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.