NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lavallette, 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
58 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lavallette, New Jersey since 1851, 13 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 29 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 13
- Tropical storms
- 45
- Tornadoes
- 29
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Lavallette
The strongest storm to pass near Lavallette was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 3 hurricane with 121 mph winds when its centre passed 62 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 9 miles. The record near Lavallette begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 17 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 6 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 58 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Lavallette has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 98% of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site. The strongest of the 29 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on July 21, 1983; its path came within 24 miles. Of the 29, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 14 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 7. The most recent tornado was on August 10, 2023. Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 88% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Lavallette. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 26 times since 1966, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 89% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Lavallette.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lavallette
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | FayJul 10 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | SandyOct 30 | 40 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 15 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 17 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 21 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 31 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 22 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 35 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 74 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 21 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 14 | 45 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 3 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 62 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 8 | 39 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 30 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 17 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 14 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 25 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 30 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 9 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 12 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 49 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 72 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 20 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lavallette: 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 Lavallette
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s4
- 1990s2
- 1980s5(1 EF3+)
- 1970s1
- 1960s3
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 1983 | F3 | 24 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 10 mi | 0.14 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 16 mi | 1.59 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 19 mi | 2.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF2 | 16 mi | 4.2 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Jun 29, 1982 | F2 | 12 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 16, 1955 | F2 | 22 mi | 3.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 2023 | EF1 | 24 mi | 0.31 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF1 | 17 mi | 6.52 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF1 | 22 mi | 3.32 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 16, 2010 | EF1 | 21 mi | 2.23 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1981 | F1 | 9 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 29, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lavallette
The Storm Prediction Center has 26 hail reports within 10 miles of Lavallette since 1966, made on 25 separate days. Of these, 13 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 13, 2002. The most recent report is from April 1, 2023. July has the most reports, 10.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lavallette
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Toms River, NJ, 8 miles west of Lavallette at 10 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 86°F and low of 64°F; January is the coolest, at 42°F and 22°F. December is the wettest at 5.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 52.0 inches over 79 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (26.3 of 52.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 58 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (24); a normal September there has highs of 77°F and 4.7 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 24 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 116 nights a year. That 52.0 inches is more than at 47 of the 51 New Jersey stations used on this site (92%). Brielle, 9 miles north, has its own station (Long Branch-Oakhurst, NJ): 52.4 inches a year, 0.4 more than here, and a July average high of 84°F against 86°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42 | 22 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Feb | 45 | 22 | 3.2 | 5 |
| Mar | 51 | 28 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Apr | 62 | 38 | 3.8 | 7 |
| May | 71 | 49 | 3.6 | 7 |
| Jun | 80 | 58 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Jul | 86 | 64 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Aug | 84 | 62 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Sep | 77 | 53 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Oct | 67 | 42 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Nov | 56 | 32 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Dec | 47 | 27 | 5.8 | 7 |
| Year | 64 | 41 | 52.0 | 79 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Toms River, NJ (10 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 Lavallette
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 206 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lavallette: 127 thunderstorm wind reports, 26 flash floods, 20 lightning strikes, 17 floods and 16 heavy rain events. They killed 3 people and injured 20, and the NWS estimated $3.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 87 mph, on June 3, 2020. July has had the most flash floods, 16 of 26. Of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 96 have had fewer than Lavallette.
June 4, 2007: heavy rain event 10 miles from the centre of Lavallette — 1 killed, 6 injured.
August 30, 2021: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Lavallette — 1 killed, 6 injured.
June 23, 2024: lightning strike 4 miles from the centre of Lavallette — 1 killed.
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 Lavallette's ZIP code 08735 have filed 4,430 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $239.0 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Sandy in 2012: 3,421 claims (77% of all) and $228.8 million, then December Storm - Nor'easter in 1992 with 288 and Hurricane Irene in 2011 with 257. 92% 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, 386 have fewer than Lavallette.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Sandy2012 | 3,421 | $228.8 million |
| December Storm - Nor'easter1992 | 288 | $2.5 million |
| Hurricane Irene2011 | 257 | $5.3 million |
| Flooding1984 | 46 | $128,000 |
| The "Halloween" Storm1991 | 28 | $86,000 |
| March 2010 Nor'easter2010 | 15 | $141,000 |
Ocean County, which includes Lavallette, has been named in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 hurricanes, 6 snowstorms, 4 fires, 4 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on September 5, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Ocean County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively High for hurricanes and inland flooding; Relatively Moderate for heat waves; Relatively Low for tornadoes and hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $203.7 million a year, the 6th highest of 21 New Jersey counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $99.8 million (49%), 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).
Lavallette in the notable storm records: Hurricane Sandy (2012)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Lavallette
- Seaside Heights, NJ2 mi
- Seaside Park, NJ4 mi
- Pine Beach, NJ6 mi
- Brick, NJ6 mi
- Toms River, NJ7 mi
- Point Pleasant Boro, NJ7 mi
- Bayville, NJ7 mi
- Beachwood, NJ8 mi
- Brielle, NJ9 mi
- Manasquan, NJ10 mi
- Lanoka Harbor, NJ10 mi
- Lakewood, NJ10 mi
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