NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Highland Mills, NY
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
34 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Highland Mills, New York since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 36 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 4
- Tropical storms
- 30
- Tornadoes
- 36
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
11 deaths in all
What the records show for Highland Mills
The strongest storm to pass near Highland Mills was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 3 hurricane with 113 mph winds when its centre passed 63 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 24 miles. The record near Highland Mills begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 73 miles away. Of the 34 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Highland Mills has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 60% of the 809 New York cities on this site. The strongest of the 36 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on July 14, 1988; its path came within 18 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on November 16, 1989, killed 9 people. Of the 36, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 13 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 13. The most recent tornado was on August 27, 2020. Highland Mills has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 75% of the 809 New York cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 32 times since 1990, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 809 New York cities, 64% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Highland Mills.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Highland Mills
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 55 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 22 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 63 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 24 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 51 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Highland Mills: 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 Highland Mills
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s6
- 2000s6
- 1990s9
- 1980s8(1 EF3+)
- 1970s4
- 1960s1
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 1988 | F3 | 18 mi | 7.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 15, 2018 | EF2 | 25 mi | 1.18 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 2009 | EF2 | 24 mi | 6.56 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 2006 | F2 | 24 mi | 10.1 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Jul 26, 1986 | F2 | 25 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jun 16, 1974 | F2 | 22 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | F2 | 19 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | F2 | 4 mi | 6.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 6, 1956 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 16, 1989 | F1 | 4 mi | 9.1 mi | 9 / 18 |
| Aug 27, 2020 | EF1 | 12 mi | 2.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 36, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Highland Mills
The Storm Prediction Center has 32 hail reports within 10 miles of Highland Mills since 1990, made on 24 separate days. Of these, 15 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 May 20, 1998. The most recent report is from September 8, 2023. July has the most reports, 11.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Highland Mills
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is West Point, NY, 9 miles east of Highland Mills at 320 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 85°F and low of 65°F; January is the coolest, at 36°F and 21°F. October is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 51.5 inches over 84 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 55% of the year's precipitation (28.3 of 51.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 34 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (15); a normal September there has highs of 76°F and 4.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 18 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 110 nights a year. Snowfall averages 35.7 inches a year, most of it in January. That 51.5 inches is more than at 128 of the 137 New York stations used on this site (93%). Washingtonville, 5 miles northwest, has its own station (Montgomery Orange Airport, NY): 41.0 inches a year, 10.5 less than here, and a July average high of 84°F against 85°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36 | 21 | 3.8 | 7 | 11.1 |
| Feb | 39 | 22 | 3.0 | 6 | 7.1 |
| Mar | 47 | 30 | 4.0 | 7 | 9.6 |
| Apr | 60 | 41 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.4 |
| May | 72 | 51 | 3.8 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 80 | 60 | 4.6 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 85 | 65 | 4.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 83 | 64 | 5.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 76 | 57 | 4.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 63 | 46 | 5.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 51 | 36 | 4.2 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Dec | 41 | 27 | 4.6 | 7 | 7.0 |
| Year | 61 | 43 | 51.5 | 84 | 35.7 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at West Point, NY (320 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 Highland Mills
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 199 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Highland Mills: 117 thunderstorm wind reports, 55 flash floods, 16 floods, 10 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 3 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $13.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 96 mph, on June 30, 2017. July has had the most flash floods, 35 of 55. Of the 798 New York cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 557 have had fewer than Highland Mills.
August 22, 2010: heavy rain event 8 miles from the centre of Highland Mills — 1 killed, 2 injured.
August 28, 2011: flood 4 miles from the centre of Highland Mills — 1 killed.
July 9, 2023: flash flood 1 mile from the centre of Highland Mills — 1 killed.
NWS: “Woman found dead after being swept away by flood waters.”
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 Highland Mills's ZIP code 10930 have filed 50 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $393,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 1979, with 14. 62% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 549 New York cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 283 have fewer than Highland Mills.
Orange County, which includes Highland Mills, has been named in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 21 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 10 severe storms, 4 floods, 4 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms and Flooding, on July 22, 2023. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Orange County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail and coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $98.7 million a year, the 11th highest of 62 New York counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $63.2 million (64%), 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 Highland Mills
- Harriman, NY4 mi
- Monroe, NY5 mi
- Washingtonville, NY5 mi
- Cornwall, NY7 mi
- Chester, NY7 mi
- West Point, NY7 mi
- Highland Falls, NY8 mi
- New Windsor, NY8 mi
- Cornwall On Hudson, NY8 mi
- Campbell Hall, NY9 mi
- Maybrook, NY10 mi
- Garrison, NY10 mi
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