NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Liberty, 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
18 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Liberty, New York since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 21 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 16
- Tornadoes
- 21
- 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 Liberty
The strongest storm to pass near Liberty was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 79 mph winds when its centre passed 63 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1878, whose centre came within 7 miles. The record near Liberty begins with an unnamed storm in 1863; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 10 miles away. The 1890s and the 1970s were the busiest decades, with 3 systems each. Of the 18 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Liberty has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 51% of the 809 New York cities on this site. The strongest of the 21 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on May 31, 1998; its path came within 24 miles. Of the 21, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 8 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 5. The most recent tornado was on September 25, 2025. Of the 809 New York cities, 73% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Liberty. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 54 times since 1972, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Liberty has more hail reports within 10 miles than 65% of the 809 New York cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Liberty
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 23 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 17 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 63 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 7 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Liberty: 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 Liberty
By decade
- 2020s4
- 2010s1
- 2000s3
- 1990s3(1 EF3+)
- 1980s5
- 1970s4
- 1960s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | 24 mi | 62 mi | 0 / 12 |
| Apr 22, 2023 | EF2 | 10 mi | 9.95 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 26, 1986 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 21, 1976 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 1974 | F2 | 24 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 1972 | F2 | 4 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 9, 1961 | F2 | in town | 6.8 mi | 0 / 4 |
| May 27, 2024 | EF1 | 23 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 13, 2014 | EF1 | 4 mi | 0.75 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 5 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 2002 | F1 | 23 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 28, 1996 | F1 | 10 mi | 1.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 21, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Liberty
The Storm Prediction Center has 54 hail reports within 10 miles of Liberty since 1972, made on 25 separate days. Of these, 33 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 3 days, most recently May 15, 2018. The most recent report is from July 6, 2020. June has the most reports, 26.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Liberty
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Liberty 1 NE, NY, in Liberty at 1,580 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 79°F and low of 57°F; January is the coolest, at 30°F and 13°F. August is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 53.1 inches over 94 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 55% of the year's precipitation (29.1 of 53.1 inches); the other six months are drier. August has brought the most of the 18 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (8); a normal August there has highs of 77°F and 5.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 4 days a year, almost all from July to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 163 nights a year. Snowfall averages 69.9 inches a year, most of it in February. That 53.1 inches is more than at 131 of the 137 New York stations used on this site (96%). Rock Hill, 15 miles southeast, has its own station (Middletown 2 NW, NY): 44.4 inches a year, 8.7 less than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 79°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30 | 13 | 3.7 | 7 | 16.6 |
| Feb | 33 | 14 | 2.8 | 6 | 17.4 |
| Mar | 41 | 22 | 3.9 | 7 | 12.8 |
| Apr | 55 | 32 | 4.2 | 8 | 3.3 |
| May | 66 | 43 | 4.7 | 10 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 74 | 52 | 5.2 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 79 | 57 | 4.7 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 77 | 55 | 5.3 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 70 | 48 | 5.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 58 | 37 | 4.8 | 8 | 0.3 |
| Nov | 47 | 28 | 3.9 | 7 | 4.2 |
| Dec | 35 | 20 | 4.7 | 8 | 15.3 |
| Year | 55 | 35 | 53.1 | 94 | 69.9 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Liberty 1 NE, NY (1,580 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 Liberty
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 129 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Liberty: 109 thunderstorm wind reports, 18 flash floods, 1 flood and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $11.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on July 10, 2001. July has had the most flash floods, 5 of 18. Of the 798 New York cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 287 have had fewer than Liberty.
April 2, 2005: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Liberty — $10.0 million damage.
August 28, 2011: flash flood 6 miles from the centre of Liberty — $200,000 damage.
NWS: “Heavy rain caused streams to flow over roads and flood bridges.”
July 3, 2014: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Liberty — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Torrential rainfall flooded numerous streams in the area, causing road washouts. A bridge was overtopped near Youngsville.”
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 Liberty's ZIP code 12754 have filed 11 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $102,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 9% 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, 15 have fewer than Liberty.
Sullivan County, which includes Liberty, has been named in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 severe storms, 8 hurricanes, 5 snowstorms, 4 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on September 5, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Sullivan County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $36.5 million a year, the 23rd highest of 62 New York counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $26.7 million (73%), 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 Liberty
- Hurleyville, NY5 mi
- Woodbourne, NY8 mi
- South Fallsburg, NY8 mi
- Livingston Manor, NY9 mi
- Monticello, NY10 mi
- Woodridge, NY11 mi
- Rock Hill, NY15 mi
- Roscoe, NY15 mi
- Ellenville, NY17 mi
- Napanoch, NY17 mi
- Wurtsboro, NY19 mi
- Kerhonkson, NY22 mi
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