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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Howell, NJ

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

53 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Howell, New Jersey since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 47 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
11

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
42

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
47

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
2

no recorded deaths

What the records show for Howell

The strongest storm to pass near Howell was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 3 hurricane with 121 mph winds when its centre passed 69 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 16 miles. The record near Howell begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 3 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 5 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 53 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Howell has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 82% of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site. The highest rating among the 47 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on September 26, 1977, came within 23 miles. Of the 47, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 21 have come since 2000. July and August have had the most tornadoes, 9 each. The most recent tornado was on August 10, 2023. Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 67% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Howell. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 42 times since 1955, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 71% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Howell.

Compare Howell's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Howell

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Howell, New Jersey, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021IdaSep 23 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 4
2021ElsaJul 935 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
2020IsaiasAug 463 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 1
2020FayJul 105 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
2013AndreaJun 836 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2012SandyOct 3047 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
2011IreneAug 283 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 3
2008HannaSep 73 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2004CharleyAug 1558 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 4
2001AllisonJun 1772 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1999FloydSep 1618 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 4
1996BerthaJul 1313 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1985GloriaSep 2732 miCategory 1 (90 mph)Category 4
1985HenriSep 2453 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1976BelleAug 1040 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 3
1972AgnesJun 2242 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 1
1971DoriaAug 286 miTropical storm (62 mph)Tropical storm
1968Unnamed 1968 stormSep 1141 miTropical storm (59 mph)Tropical storm
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 1523 miTropical storm (61 mph)Tropical storm
1960DonnaSep 1246 miCategory 2 (98 mph)Category 4
1960BrendaJul 305 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1955DianeAug 1927 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1952AbleSep 161 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1944Unnamed 1944 stormOct 2170 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 4
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1456 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 5
1944Unnamed 1944 stormAug 353 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1938Unnamed 1938 stormSep 2169 miCategory 3 (121 mph)Category 5
1934Unnamed 1934 stormSep 849 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 2
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 198 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 305 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1736 miTropical storm (54 mph)Tropical storm
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 445 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 1
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1530 miCategory 1 (77 mph)Category 1
1903Unnamed 1903 stormSep 1638 miTropical storm (68 mph)Category 2
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1637 miTropical storm (44 mph)Tropical storm
1900Unnamed 1900 stormOct 1423 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1899Unnamed 1899 stormNov 167 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 2
1897Unnamed 1897 stormSep 2444 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 1037 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2970 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2416 miCategory 1 (87 mph)Category 3
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1113 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 2271 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 2426 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormAug 1962 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 3
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 523 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 295 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 264 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1866Unnamed 1866 stormOct 302 miTropical storm (62 mph)Tropical storm
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 1919 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 363 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 283 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 1
1856Unnamed 1856 stormAug 2059 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 Howell: 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 Howell

By decade

  • 2020s14
  • 2010s6
  • 2000s1
  • 1990s8
  • 1980s5
  • 1970s2(1 EF3+)
  • 1960s6(1 EF3+)
  • 1950s5
Strongest tornadoes near Howell, New Jersey
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Sep 26, 1977F323 mi5.9 mi0 / 0
Jun 24, 1960F318 mi12.9 mi0 / 0
Apr 1, 2023EF29 mi0.14 mi0 / 0
Apr 1, 2023EF24 mi1.59 mi0 / 0
Apr 1, 2023EF28 mi2.1 mi0 / 0
Feb 21, 2023EF222 mi5.8 mi0 / 0
May 27, 2001F215 mi1.5 mi0 / 0
Jun 29, 1982F219 mi1.5 mi0 / 0
May 24, 1962F224 mi16.6 mi0 / 1
Jun 13, 1958F223 mi0.1 mi0 / 1
Oct 16, 1955F213 mi3.8 mi0 / 0
Aug 10, 2023EF120 mi0.31 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 47, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Howell

The Storm Prediction Center has 42 hail reports within 10 miles of Howell since 1955, made on 31 separate days. Of these, 18 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 June 1, 2011. The most recent report is from May 3, 2025. July has the most reports, 16.

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

Weather by month in Howell

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Freehold-Marlboro, NJ, 12 miles north of Howell at 194 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 87°F and low of 66°F; January is the coolest, at 42°F and 23°F. July and December are the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 48.5 inches over 82 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (25.0 of 48.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 53 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (21); a normal September there has highs of 78°F and 4.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 28 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 106 nights a year. That 48.5 inches is more than at 27 of the 51 New Jersey stations used on this site (53%). Lakewood, 4 miles south, has its own station (Toms River, NJ): 52.0 inches a year, 3.5 more than here, and a July average high of 86°F against 87°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Sandy Hook, NJ, 25 miles northeast, averaged 77°F in July and 38°F in January over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Sandy Hook tide gauge, 25 miles from Howell, has risen 1.68 ± 0.04 inches per decade from 1932 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 16.8 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 105 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Freehold-Marlboro, NJ
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan42233.9738
Feb44253.1639
Mar51314.2744
Apr63413.8751
May72513.8860
Jun81604.4870
Jul87664.7777
Aug85634.1776
Sep78564.2672
Oct67444.1763
Nov56363.5652
Dec47284.7742
Year644448.58257

Averages for 1991–2020 at Freehold-Marlboro, NJ (194 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Sandy Hook, NJ, 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.

New Jersey weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Howell

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 312 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Howell: 191 thunderstorm wind reports, 42 flash floods, 32 floods, 25 lightning strikes and 22 heavy rain events. They killed 4 people and injured 47, and the NWS estimated $17.7 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 98 mph, on November 1, 2019. July has had the most flash floods, 18 of 42. Of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 153 have had fewer than Howell.

  • September 7, 1998: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Howell — 1 killed, 30 injured.

  • June 4, 2007: heavy rain event 10 miles from the centre of Howell — 1 killed, 6 injured.

  • June 22, 2011: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Howell — 1 killed, 1 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

Flood insurance policyholders in Howell's ZIP code 07731 have filed 33 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $423,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 36% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 395 New Jersey cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 103 have fewer than Howell.

Monmouth County, which includes Howell, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 4 floods, 4 snowstorms, 3 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on September 5, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Monmouth County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for strong wind and lightning; Relatively High for inland flooding, coastal flooding and heat waves; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes; Relatively Low for tornadoes; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $281.6 million a year, the 3rd highest of 21 New Jersey counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $109.6 million (39%), 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 Howell