NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Cromwell, 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
52 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Cromwell, Connecticut since 1851, 10 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 54 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 6 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 10
- Tropical storms
- 42
- Tornadoes
- 54
- EF3 or stronger
- 6
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Cromwell
The strongest storm to pass near Cromwell was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds when its centre passed 52 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Gloria in 1985, whose centre came within 12 miles. The record near Cromwell begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 64 miles away. The 1860s and the 1890s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 52 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site, 47% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Cromwell. The highest rating among the 54 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on July 10, 1989, came within 20 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on October 3, 1979, killed 3 people. Of the 54, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 18 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 18. The most recent tornado was on June 21, 2024. Cromwell has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 61% of the 186 Connecticut cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 55 times since 1960, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Cromwell has more hail reports within 10 miles than 70% of the 186 Connecticut cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Cromwell
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | HenriAug 22 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 62 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 12 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 22 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 23 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 39 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 51 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 13 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 30 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 57 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 43 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 52 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 38 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Cromwell: 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 Cromwell
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s10
- 2000s3
- 1990s6
- 1980s5(1 EF3+)
- 1970s10(2 EF3+)
- 1960s5(1 EF3+)
- 1950s10(2 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 1979 | F4 | 19 mi | 11.3 mi | 3 / 500 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F4 | 20 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 40 |
| May 24, 1962 | F3 | 11 mi | 11.6 mi | 1 / 50 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | F3 | 20 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 10, 1954 | F3 | 24 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F3 | 9 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 19 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 70 |
| Jul 5, 1984 | F2 | 11 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 1973 | F2 | 12 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 6, 1973 | F2 | 15 mi | 3.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 31, 1973 | F2 | 9 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1973 | F2 | 23 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 54, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Cromwell
The Storm Prediction Center has 55 hail reports within 10 miles of Cromwell since 1960, made on 38 separate days. Of these, 27 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on April 24, 1960. The most recent report is from August 26, 2024. June has the most reports, 16.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Cromwell
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hartford Brainard Field, CT, 9 miles north of Cromwell at 19 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 85°F and low of 66°F; January is the coolest, at 37°F and 20°F. October is the wettest at 4.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 42.9 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (22.9 of 42.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 52 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (22); a normal September there has highs of 76°F and 4.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 17 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 121 nights a year. That 42.9 inches is more than at 2 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (7%). Middletown, 4 miles south, has its own station (Meriden Markham Municipal Airport, CT): 45.0 inches a year, 2.1 more than here, and a July average high of 84°F against 85°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37 | 20 | 2.9 | 6 |
| Feb | 40 | 22 | 2.6 | 6 |
| Mar | 48 | 30 | 3.5 | 7 |
| Apr | 60 | 40 | 3.8 | 6 |
| May | 71 | 50 | 3.4 | 7 |
| Jun | 80 | 60 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Jul | 85 | 66 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Aug | 83 | 64 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Sep | 76 | 56 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Oct | 64 | 44 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Nov | 52 | 35 | 3.4 | 6 |
| Dec | 42 | 26 | 3.8 | 8 |
| Year | 61 | 43 | 42.9 | 76 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Hartford Brainard Field, CT (19 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 Cromwell
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 187 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Cromwell: 126 thunderstorm wind reports, 27 flash floods, 21 floods and 13 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $1.7 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 110 mph, on July 21, 2010. July has had the most flash floods, 12 of 27. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 92 have had fewer than Cromwell.
June 22, 2024: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Cromwell — 3 injured.
NWS: “First responders reported a tree struck by lightning, injuring three people nearby. The EMS crew treated two people who were transported to area hospitals for further evaluation.”
July 8, 2011: flash flood 2 miles from the centre of Cromwell — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “Runoff from heavy rain caused a number of basements of government buildings and individual homes and businesses to be flooded throughout the town of Portland.”
June 26, 2009: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Cromwell — $150,000 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 Cromwell's ZIP code 06416 have filed 59 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $411,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1984: 29 claims (49% of all) and $287,000. 63% 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, 65 have fewer than Cromwell.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1984 | 29 | $287,000 |
Middlesex County, which includes Cromwell, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 7 severe storms, 5 snowstorms, 3 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on October 30, 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.
Cities near Cromwell
- Rocky Hill, CT3 mi
- Portland, CT4 mi
- Middletown, CT4 mi
- Berlin, CT5 mi
- Newington, CT6 mi
- South Glastonbury, CT6 mi
- Wethersfield, CT6 mi
- Middlefield, CT7 mi
- New Britain, CT7 mi
- Glastonbury, CT8 mi
- Meriden, CT9 mi
- East Hampton, CT9 mi
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