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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Melville, 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

52 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Melville, New York since 1851, 12 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 32 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
12

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
40

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
32

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
0

1 deaths in all

What the records show for Melville

The strongest storm to pass near Melville was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds when its centre passed 26 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Gloria in 1985, whose centre came within 9 miles. The record near Melville begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 24 miles away. The 1860s and the 1900s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 52 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Melville has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 87% of the 809 New York cities on this site. The highest rating among the 32 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 4 times; the most recent, on September 7, 1998, came within 17 miles. The deadliest, an EF1 on September 16, 2010, killed 1 person. Of the 32, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 15 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 9. The most recent tornado was on November 13, 2021. Melville has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 59% of the 809 New York cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 45 times since 1979, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Melville has more hail reports within 10 miles than 55% of the 809 New York cities.

Compare Melville's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Melville

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Melville, New York, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021IdaSep 224 miTropical storm (45 mph)Category 4
2021ElsaJul 935 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
2020FayJul 1162 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2013AndreaJun 836 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2011IreneAug 2825 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 3
2008HannaSep 73 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2007BarryJun 464 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1999FloydSep 174 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1996BerthaJul 1310 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1991BobAug 1974 miCategory 2 (106 mph)Category 3
1985GloriaSep 279 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 4
1985HenriSep 2437 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1976BelleAug 108 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 3
1972AgnesJun 2212 miTropical storm (59 mph)Category 1
1971DoriaAug 2826 miTropical storm (59 mph)Tropical storm
1968Unnamed 1968 stormSep 119 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 1512 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1960DonnaSep 1226 miCategory 2 (98 mph)Category 4
1960BrendaJul 305 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1955DianeAug 1910 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1954CarolAug 3158 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 3
1952AbleSep 156 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 2
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1546 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 5
1938Unnamed 1938 stormSep 2126 miCategory 3 (120 mph)Category 5
1934Unnamed 1934 stormSep 921 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 2
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 1914 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 3026 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1729 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 434 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
1908Unnamed 1908 stormMay 3055 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
1907Unnamed 1907 stormJun 3071 miTropical storm (44 mph)Tropical storm
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1538 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1631 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1900Unnamed 1900 stormOct 145 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
1897Unnamed 1897 stormSep 2431 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 1026 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2969 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2423 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 3
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1213 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 2243 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 2427 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormAug 1964 miCategory 1 (89 mph)Category 3
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 532 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 3013 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 262 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1869Unnamed 1869 stormSep 873 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 3
1866Unnamed 1866 stormOct 3035 miTropical storm (60 mph)Tropical storm
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 1939 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 344 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 289 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 1
1858Unnamed 1858 stormSep 1657 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 2
1856Unnamed 1856 stormAug 2070 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 Melville: 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 Melville

By decade

  • 2020s4
  • 2010s8
  • 2000s3
  • 1990s8
  • 1980s1
  • 1970s8
Strongest tornadoes near Melville, New York
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Sep 7, 1998F217 mi0.2 mi0 / 6
Sep 18, 1973F29 mi1.9 mi0 / 0
Jul 19, 1971F221 mi1.5 mi0 / 0
Sep 27, 1970F28 mi0.5 mi0 / 0
Sep 16, 2010EF119 mi4 mi1 / 1
Oct 2, 2018EF122 mi3.76 mi0 / 0
Jul 18, 2007EF111 mi0.67 mi0 / 0
Aug 12, 2005F113 mi0.2 mi0 / 0
Jun 30, 1998F123 mi0.3 mi0 / 0
Jun 30, 1998F115 mi0.3 mi0 / 0
Jul 23, 1995F16 mi0.2 mi0 / 0
Oct 5, 1985F123 mi1.5 mi0 / 6

The strongest 12 of 32, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Melville

The Storm Prediction Center has 45 hail reports within 10 miles of Melville since 1979, made on 29 separate days. Of these, 17 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), fell on July 3, 1984. The most recent report is from July 25, 2022. July has the most reports, 18.

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

Radar-estimated hail days in Melville since 2019 →

Weather by month in Melville

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Farmingdale Airport, NY, 4 miles south of Melville at 81 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 83°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 39°F and 25°F. September is the wettest at 3.7 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.0 inches; the year adds up to 38.5 inches over 69 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (19.9 of 38.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 52 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (22); a normal September there has highs of 75°F and 3.7 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 9 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 88 nights a year. That 38.5 inches is more than at 31 of the 137 New York stations used on this site (23%). Huntington Station, 3 miles northeast, has its own station (Centerport, NY): 48.5 inches a year, 10.0 more than here, and the same July average high, 83°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Kings Point, NY, 19 miles west, averaged 74°F in August and 38°F in February over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Kings Point tide gauge, 19 miles from Melville, has risen 1.08 ± 0.04 inches per decade from 1931 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 10.8 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 62 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Farmingdale Airport, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan39252.7540
Feb41262.0538
Mar48333.5642
Apr58423.6648
May68513.2757
Jun77613.5765
Jul83683.1571
Aug82673.3674
Sep75603.7572
Oct64483.4563
Nov53382.9654
Dec44313.6744
Year614638.56956

Averages for 1991–2020 at Farmingdale Airport, NY (81 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Kings Point, NY, 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 York weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Melville

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 304 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Melville: 173 thunderstorm wind reports, 121 flash floods, 7 lightning strikes, 2 floods and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 1 person and injured 16, and the NWS estimated $35.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on June 24, 2010. August has had the most flash floods, 55 of 121. Of the 798 New York cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 678 have had fewer than Melville.

  • September 7, 1998: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Melville — 1 killed, 2 injured.

  • July 18, 1997: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Melville — 5 injured.

  • July 27, 2008: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Melville — 5 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 Melville's ZIP code 11747 have filed 61 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $352,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 1979, with 10. 31% 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, 315 have fewer than Melville.

Suffolk County, which includes Melville, has been named in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 25 of them major disasters (by incident: 13 hurricanes, 9 severe storms, 5 snowstorms, 3 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storm and Flooding, on October 21, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Suffolk County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding and lightning; Relatively High for hurricanes, inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $320.5 million a year, the 3rd highest of 62 New York counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $193.3 million (60%), 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 Melville