NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Harwinton, 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
48 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Harwinton, Connecticut since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Henri in 2021. Since 1950, 69 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 39
- Tornadoes
- 69
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Harwinton
The strongest storm to pass near Harwinton was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds when its centre passed 75 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1938, whose centre came within 7 miles. The record near Harwinton begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Henri in 2021, a tropical storm 58 miles away. The 1860s and the 1890s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 48 systems, 6 have come since 2000. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site, 76% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Harwinton. The strongest of the 69 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on October 3, 1979; its path came within 22 miles, and it killed 3 people. Of the 69, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 32 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 20. The most recent tornado was on June 21, 2024. Harwinton has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 96% of the 186 Connecticut cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 92 times since 1962, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Harwinton has more hail reports within 10 miles than 96% of the 186 Connecticut cities.
Compare Harwinton's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Harwinton
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | HenriAug 22 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 11 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 22 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 46 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 61 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 73 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 7 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 30 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 44 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 21 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 75 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 60 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 74 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 Harwinton: 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 Harwinton
By decade
- 2020s12
- 2010s12
- 2000s8
- 1990s6
- 1980s4
- 1970s15(2 EF3+)
- 1960s4(1 EF3+)
- 1950s8
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 1979 | F4 | 22 mi | 11.3 mi | 3 / 500 |
| May 24, 1962 | F3 | 13 mi | 11.6 mi | 1 / 50 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | F3 | 14 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jun 23, 2001 | F2 | 4 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 11 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 70 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 9 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Jul 5, 1984 | F2 | 9 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 1976 | F2 | 17 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 1973 | F2 | 14 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 31, 1973 | F2 | 18 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1973 | F2 | 10 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 11, 1966 | F2 | 22 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 69, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Harwinton
The Storm Prediction Center has 92 hail reports within 10 miles of Harwinton since 1962, made on 49 separate days. Of these, 41 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently June 26, 2009. The most recent report is from September 6, 2025. May has the most reports, 27.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Harwinton
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bakersville, CT, 7 miles northeast of Harwinton at 686 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 82°F and low of 58°F; January is the coolest, at 33°F and 15°F. October is the wettest at 5.4 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.5 inches; the year adds up to 54.3 inches over 88 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (28.8 of 54.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 48 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (20); a normal September there has highs of 72°F and 5.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 7 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 158 nights a year. Snowfall averages 59.1 inches a year, most of it in February. That 54.3 inches is more than at 26 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (96%). Thomaston, 5 miles south, has its own station (Burlington, CT): 53.5 inches a year, 0.8 less than here, and a July average high of 84°F against 82°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33 | 15 | 3.9 | 7 | 13.1 |
| Feb | 37 | 16 | 3.5 | 7 | 15.8 |
| Mar | 45 | 23 | 4.6 | 8 | 12.7 |
| Apr | 59 | 33 | 4.4 | 8 | 2.6 |
| May | 69 | 44 | 4.1 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 77 | 53 | 4.9 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 82 | 58 | 4.4 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 80 | 56 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 72 | 49 | 5.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 60 | 38 | 5.4 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Nov | 49 | 29 | 4.2 | 7 | 2.6 |
| Dec | 38 | 21 | 5.0 | 8 | 12.0 |
| Year | 58 | 36 | 54.3 | 88 | 59.1 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Bakersville, CT (686 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 Harwinton
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 233 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Harwinton: 178 thunderstorm wind reports, 25 floods, 19 flash floods, 10 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 2 people and injured 10, and the NWS estimated $10.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on July 15, 1997. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 69 have had fewer than Harwinton.
August 28, 2011: flood 7 miles from the centre of Harwinton — 1 killed, $8.0 million damage.
October 15, 2005: flood 9 miles from the centre of Harwinton — 1 killed, $500,000 damage.
June 11, 2000: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Harwinton — 8 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
Litchfield County, which includes Harwinton, has been named in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 8 severe storms, 7 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, on September 20, 2024.
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.