NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Dexter, ME
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
30 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Dexter, Maine since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Irene in 2011. Since 1950, 13 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 1
- Tropical storms
- 29
- Tornadoes
- 13
- 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 Dexter
The strongest storm to pass near Dexter was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 1 hurricane with 83 mph winds when its centre passed 4 miles away. The record near Dexter begins with an unnamed storm in 1858; the most recent system was Irene in 2011, a tropical storm 71 miles away. The 1890s and the 1960s were the busiest decades, with 4 systems each. Of the 30 systems, one has come since 2000. Of the 160 Maine cities on this site, 93% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Dexter. The highest rating among the 13 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 4 times; the most recent, on August 9, 2000, came within 23 miles. Of the 13, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 2 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 5. The most recent tornado was on July 15, 2014. Of the 160 Maine cities, 59% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Dexter. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 9 times since 1970, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 160 Maine cities, 85% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Dexter.
Compare Dexter's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Dexter
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | IreneAug 29 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 14 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 20 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 7 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1971 | HeidiSep 14 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | EstherSep 26 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 13 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 31 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 5 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 18 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 31 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 17 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 11 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 11 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 30 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 23 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormOct 5 | 4 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 9 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Dexter: 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 Dexter
By decade
- 2010s1
- 2000s1
- 1990s2
- 1970s2
- 1960s4
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2000 | F2 | 23 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 7, 1971 | F2 | 25 mi | 4.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 20, 1962 | F2 | 15 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 4, 1961 | F2 | 25 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 2014 | EF1 | 7 mi | 2.75 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 28, 1991 | F1 | 11 mi | 0.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 3, 1970 | F1 | 10 mi | 9.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 17, 1959 | F1 | 12 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 6, 1953 | F1 | 2 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 27, 1997 | F0 | 13 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 1963 | F0 | 4 mi | 17.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 1963 | F0 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 13, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Dexter
The Storm Prediction Center has 9 hail reports within 10 miles of Dexter since 1970, made on 7 separate days. Of these, 7 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), fell on July 4, 2011. The most recent report is from July 28, 2019.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Dexter
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Corinna, ME, 8 miles south of Dexter at 297 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 81°F and low of 58°F; January is the coolest, at 28°F and 6°F. October is the wettest at 4.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 44.6 inches over 87 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (23.3 of 44.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 30 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (14); a normal September there has highs of 72°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 5 days a year, almost all from June to July. Lows fall below freezing on about 175 nights a year. Snowfall averages 71.5 inches a year, most of it in February. That 44.6 inches is more than at 12 of the 47 Maine stations used on this site (26%). Dover Foxcroft, 13 miles northeast, has its own station (Dover-Foxcroft Wwtp, ME): 44.9 inches a year, 0.3 more than here, and a July average high of 80°F against 81°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | 6 | 3.4 | 7 | 16.6 |
| Feb | 32 | 7 | 2.8 | 6 | 17.2 |
| Mar | 41 | 18 | 3.4 | 7 | 13.4 |
| Apr | 54 | 31 | 3.8 | 8 | 3.4 |
| May | 67 | 43 | 3.6 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 75 | 52 | 4.0 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 81 | 58 | 3.2 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 80 | 56 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 72 | 48 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 59 | 37 | 4.8 | 8 | 0.3 |
| Nov | 46 | 27 | 4.1 | 7 | 4.1 |
| Dec | 34 | 16 | 4.3 | 8 | 16.5 |
| Year | 56 | 33 | 44.6 | 87 | 71.5 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Corinna, ME (297 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 Dexter
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 49 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Dexter: 43 thunderstorm wind reports, 4 floods and 2 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $294,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on July 18, 2016.
December 13, 2010: flood 2 miles from the centre of Dexter — $219,000 damage.
NWS: “00 inches of rain and record warmth which melted 1 to 2 feet of snow led to flooding of many small rivers and streams across the region. with some roads remaining closed after the flooding subsided due to 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
Penobscot County, which includes Dexter, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1970, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 floods, 6 snowstorms, 5 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storm and Flooding, on January 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Penobscot County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for tornadoes and hail; Very Low for coastal flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $41.2 million a year, the 3rd highest of 16 Maine counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $24.1 million (58%), 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 Dexter
- Corinna, ME5 mi
- Newport, ME12 mi
- Palmyra, ME13 mi
- Dover Foxcroft, ME13 mi
- Corinth, ME14 mi
- Guilford, ME16 mi
- Pittsfield, ME18 mi
- Levant, ME18 mi
- Carmel, ME22 mi
- Canaan, ME22 mi
- Milo, ME23 mi
- Skowhegan, ME26 mi
All Maine cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Dexter with another place →