Skip to content

NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Dennis Port, MA

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

63 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Dennis Port, Massachusetts since 1851, 16 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Wanda in 2021. Since 1950, 7 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
16

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
47

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
7

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
0

no recorded deaths

What the records show for Dennis Port

The strongest storm to pass near Dennis Port was Gerda in 1969, a Category 3 hurricane with 116 mph winds when its centre passed 56 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Edna in 1954, whose centre came within 9 miles. The record near Dennis Port begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Wanda in 2021, a tropical storm 42 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 11 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 63 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Dennis Port has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 92% of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site. The highest rating among the 7 tornadoes within 25 miles is F1 or EF1, reached 5 times; the most recent, on July 23, 2019, came within 3 miles. Of the 7, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 5 have come since 2000. The most recent tornado was on August 8, 2023. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 97% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Dennis Port. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 17 times since 1997, with stones up to 1.5 inches (ping pong ball size). Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 92% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Dennis Port.

Compare Dennis Port's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Dennis Port

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Dennis Port, Massachusetts, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021WandaOct 2742 miTropical storm (69 mph)Tropical storm
2021IdaSep 224 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
2021ElsaJul 948 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2013AndreaJun 845 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2008HannaSep 759 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2007BarryJun 455 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2006BerylJul 2120 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
2004HermineAug 3141 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1997DannyJul 2567 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1996JosephineOct 913 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1991BobAug 1948 miCategory 1 (91 mph)Category 3
1988AlbertoAug 751 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
1973AlfaAug 142 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
1972CarrieSep 339 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1971HeidiSep 1469 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1969GerdaSep 956 miCategory 3 (116 mph)Category 3
1967Unnamed 1967 stormJun 2167 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1966AlmaJun 1427 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1962AlmaAug 2959 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 1
1961EstherSep 264 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 5
1959CindyJul 1124 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1955DianeAug 1947 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1954EdnaSep 119 miCategory 2 (108 mph)Category 3
1953Unnamed 1953 stormJul 1572 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1952Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 428 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1944Unnamed 1944 stormOct 2131 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 4
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1549 miCategory 1 (74 mph)Category 5
1940Unnamed 1940 stormSep 271 miCategory 1 (84 mph)Category 2
1936Unnamed 1936 stormSep 1958 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 3
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 206 miTropical storm (47 mph)Category 2
1932Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1742 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 1
1924Unnamed 1924 stormAug 2629 miCategory 1 (91 mph)Category 3
1923Unnamed 1923 stormOct 1929 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1917Unnamed 1917 stormAug 1041 miTropical storm (66 mph)Tropical storm
1916Unnamed 1916 stormJul 2145 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 2
1913Unnamed 1913 stormOct 264 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1907Unnamed 1907 stormJun 3029 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1524 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1765 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1896Unnamed 1896 stormSep 1027 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 166 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 3
1891Unnamed 1891 stormOct 1454 miTropical storm (62 mph)Tropical storm
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 256 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormNov 2752 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormOct 1238 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 2613 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 1
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1259 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 2252 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 3
1887Unnamed 1887 stormOct 2128 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
1885Unnamed 1885 stormSep 2341 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 1
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 1256 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 3
1881Unnamed 1881 stormSep 1147 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1880Unnamed 1880 stormOct 2315 miTropical storm (69 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormAug 1910 miCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 3
1878Unnamed 1878 stormOct 2471 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 55 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 3
1875Unnamed 1875 stormOct 1545 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 2730 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1871Unnamed 1871 stormAug 3060 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1869Unnamed 1869 stormOct 414 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1869Unnamed 1869 stormSep 871 miCategory 2 (106 mph)Category 3
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 373 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1856Unnamed 1856 stormAug 2166 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Dennis Port: 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 Dennis Port

By decade

  • 2020s2
  • 2010s3
  • 1970s1
  • 1960s1
Strongest tornadoes near Dennis Port, Massachusetts
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Jul 23, 2019EF13 mi2.77 mi0 / 0
Jul 23, 2019EF16 mi0.25 mi0 / 0
Jul 23, 2019EF13 mi5.52 mi0 / 0
Aug 22, 1977F18 mi0.1 mi0 / 2
Aug 9, 1968F114 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Aug 8, 2023EF012 mi1.2 mi0 / 0
Sep 1, 2021EF07 mi0.1 mi0 / 0

The strongest 7 of 7, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Dennis Port

The Storm Prediction Center has 17 hail reports within 10 miles of Dennis Port since 1997, made on 9 separate days. Of these, 3 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest, 1.5 inches (ping pong ball size), fell on July 2, 2009. The most recent report is from June 22, 2019. June and July have the most reports, 6 each.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Dennis Port

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Chatham Municipal Airport, MA, 8 miles east of Dennis Port at 68 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 79°F and low of 64°F; January is the coolest, at 39°F and 26°F. December is the wettest at 5.0 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 45.2 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 47% of the year's precipitation (21.1 of 45.2 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 63 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (20); a normal September there has highs of 71°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 1 days a year. Lows fall below freezing on about 92 nights a year. That 45.2 inches is more than at 13 of the 65 Massachusetts stations used on this site (20%). South Yarmouth, 3 miles west, has its own station (Hyannis Barnstable Municipal Airport, MA): 44.8 inches a year, 0.4 less than here, and a July average high of 81°F against 79°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Chatham, MA, 10 miles east, averaged 69°F in August and 39°F in February over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Nantucket Island tide gauge, 26 miles from Dennis Port, has risen 1.63 ± 0.06 inches per decade from 1965 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 16.3 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 101 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Chatham Municipal Airport, MA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan39263.8840
Feb40263.6739
Mar44314.4842
Apr52394.0849
May62483.3756
Jun72573.0663
Jul79642.8569
Aug78643.0569
Sep71583.6567
Oct61474.2760
Nov52394.5750
Dec44315.0944
Year584445.28054

Averages for 1991–2020 at Chatham Municipal Airport, MA (68 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Chatham, MA, 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.

Massachusetts weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Dennis Port

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 56 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Dennis Port: 24 thunderstorm wind reports, 21 floods, 6 flash floods, 4 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $3.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on July 23, 2019. August has had the most flash floods, 4 of 6. Of the 339 Massachusetts cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 52 have had fewer than Dennis Port.

  • July 23, 2019: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Dennis Port — $2.6 million damage.

  • July 23, 2019: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Dennis Port — $1.0 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 Dennis Port's ZIP code 02639 have filed 111 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $991,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Bob in 1991: 32 claims (29% of all) and $435,000, then Flooding in 1996 with 12 and December Nor'easter in 2023 with 11. 53% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 229 Massachusetts cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 169 have fewer than Dennis Port.

Flood insurance claims in Dennis Port by named event
EventClaimsPaid
Hurricane Bob199132$435,000
Flooding199612$12,000
December Nor'easter202311$274,000

Barnstable County, which includes Dennis Port, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 14 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 5 snowstorms, 4 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 27, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Barnstable County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding; Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for tornadoes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $82.3 million a year, the 9th highest of 14 Massachusetts counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $44.2 million (54%), 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 Dennis Port