NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Ipswich, 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
46 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Ipswich, Massachusetts since 1851, 8 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 27 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 8
- Tropical storms
- 38
- Tornadoes
- 27
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Ipswich
The strongest storm to pass near Ipswich was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 2 hurricane with 104 mph winds when its centre passed 30 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1869, whose centre came within 15 miles. The record near Ipswich begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 27 miles away. The 1870s and the 1960s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 46 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site, 76% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Ipswich. The highest rating among the 27 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on September 29, 1974, came within 19 miles. Of the 27, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 2 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on July 28, 2014. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 81% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Ipswich. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 30 times since 1961, with stones up to 3.5 inches. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 84% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Ipswich.
Compare Ipswich's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Ipswich
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 5 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 14 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 18 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 60 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1961 | EstherSep 26 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 13 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 31 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | EdnaSep 11 | 63 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 34 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 31 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 54 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 17 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 10 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 23 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 66 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormOct 4 | 30 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 15 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Ipswich: 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 Ipswich
By decade
- 2010s1
- 2000s1
- 1990s1
- 1980s2
- 1970s4(1 EF3+)
- 1960s10
- 1950s8(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 1974 | F3 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 9, 1953 | F3 | 21 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Jul 28, 2014 | EF2 | 20 mi | 1.93 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 21, 2006 | F2 | 16 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Aug 28, 1965 | F2 | 25 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 2, 1961 | F2 | 19 mi | 5.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 25, 1958 | F2 | 13 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1956 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F2 | 18 mi | 4.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F2 | 9 mi | 9.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 15, 1991 | F1 | 8 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 7, 1986 | F1 | 24 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 27, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Ipswich
The Storm Prediction Center has 30 hail reports within 10 miles of Ipswich since 1961, made on 23 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 3.5 inches, fell on August 28, 1965. The most recent report is from July 23, 2021. June has the most reports, 15.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Ipswich
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Beverly, MA, 7 miles south of Ipswich at 65 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 80°F and low of 60°F; January is the coolest, at 37°F and 18°F. October is the wettest at 5.0 inches of precipitation on average and July and August the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 48.0 inches over 84 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 49% of the year's precipitation (23.6 of 48.0 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 46 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 72°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 5 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 133 nights a year. Snowfall averages 51.4 inches a year, most of it in February. That 48.0 inches is more than at 26 of the 65 Massachusetts stations used on this site (40%). Rowley, 4 miles northwest, has its own station (Groveland, MA): 49.1 inches a year, 1.1 more than here, and a July average high of 83°F against 80°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37 | 18 | 3.7 | 7 | 16.0 |
| Feb | 39 | 18 | 3.6 | 7 | 16.4 |
| Mar | 45 | 25 | 4.6 | 7 | 7.6 |
| Apr | 57 | 34 | 4.2 | 8 | 1.4 |
| May | 66 | 44 | 3.5 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 75 | 54 | 4.0 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 80 | 60 | 3.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 79 | 58 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 61 | 40 | 5.0 | 6 | 0.3 |
| Nov | 51 | 31 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.9 |
| Dec | 42 | 24 | 4.8 | 8 | 8.8 |
| Year | 59 | 38 | 48.0 | 84 | 51.4 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Beverly, MA (65 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 Ipswich
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 121 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Ipswich: 87 thunderstorm wind reports, 19 floods, 10 lightning strikes and 5 flash floods. They killed 3 people and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $11.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 98 mph, on September 6, 2014. September has had the most flash floods, 3 of 5. Of the 339 Massachusetts cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 40 have had fewer than Ipswich.
September 6, 2014: lightning strike 4 miles from the centre of Ipswich — 2 killed.
March 14, 2010: flood 6 miles from the centre of Ipswich — 1 killed, 1 injured, $9.8 million damage.
July 2, 2008: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Ipswich — 1 injured, $10,000 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 Ipswich's ZIP code 01938 have filed 37 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $225,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 49% 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, 109 have fewer than Ipswich.
Essex County, which includes Ipswich, has been named in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 25 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 severe storms, 8 snowstorms, 7 floods, 7 hurricanes). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 27, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Essex County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding; Relatively High for hurricanes, tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $198.8 million a year, the 2nd highest of 14 Massachusetts counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $124.6 million (63%), 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.