NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Middlesex, 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
45 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Middlesex, New Jersey since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 66 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 36
- Tornadoes
- 66
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Middlesex
The strongest storm to pass near Middlesex was Donna in 1960, a Category 2 hurricane with 98 mph winds when its centre passed 71 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 32 miles. The record near Middlesex begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 30 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 5 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 45 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Middlesex has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 69% of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site. The highest rating among the 66 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on October 18, 1990, came within 16 miles. Of the 66, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 23 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 13. The most recent tornado was on June 14, 2024. Middlesex has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 76% of the 455 New Jersey cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 62 times since 1967, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 51% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Middlesex.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Middlesex
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | FayJul 11 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | SandyOct 30 | 71 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 58 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 61 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 22 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 71 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 8 | 72 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 63 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 14 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 66 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 32 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 72 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Middlesex: 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 Middlesex
By decade
- 2020s8
- 2010s8
- 2000s7
- 1990s15(1 EF3+)
- 1980s11
- 1970s10(3 EF3+)
- 1960s4(1 EF3+)
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1990 | F3 | 16 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Sep 26, 1977 | F3 | 9 mi | 5.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 1973 | F3 | 22 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 12 |
| May 28, 1973 | F3 | 16 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1960 | F3 | 22 mi | 12.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 21, 2023 | EF2 | 22 mi | 5.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2001 | F2 | 18 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 20, 1981 | F2 | 23 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 1974 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 2, 1973 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 1962 | F2 | 21 mi | 16.6 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 26, 2023 | EF1 | 10 mi | 1.38 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 66, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Middlesex
The Storm Prediction Center has 62 hail reports within 10 miles of Middlesex since 1967, made on 41 separate days. Of these, 31 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently September 9, 2023. The most recent report is from August 6, 2024. July has the most reports, 24.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Middlesex
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Plainfield, NJ, 6 miles east of Middlesex at 90 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 88°F and low of 66°F; January is the coolest, at 41°F and 24°F. July is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 48.7 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (25.7 of 48.7 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 45 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 79°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 29 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 103 nights a year. Snowfall averages 21.4 inches a year, most of it in February. That 48.7 inches is more than at 28 of the 51 New Jersey stations used on this site (55%). Bound Brook, 2 miles west, has its own station (Somerville 4 NW, NJ): 46.8 inches a year, 1.9 less than here, and a July average high of 86°F against 88°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41 | 24 | 3.8 | 7 | 5.1 |
| Feb | 44 | 26 | 3.1 | 5 | 8.3 |
| Mar | 53 | 32 | 4.3 | 8 | 5.3 |
| Apr | 66 | 42 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.1 |
| May | 75 | 51 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 84 | 60 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 88 | 66 | 5.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 86 | 64 | 4.0 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 79 | 58 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 66 | 46 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 56 | 36 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.2 |
| Dec | 46 | 29 | 4.2 | 7 | 2.4 |
| Year | 65 | 44 | 48.7 | 78 | 21.4 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Plainfield, NJ (90 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 Middlesex
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 528 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Middlesex: 319 thunderstorm wind reports, 120 flash floods, 52 floods, 22 lightning strikes and 15 heavy rain events. They killed 8 people and injured 8, and the NWS estimated $100.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on July 1, 2013. July has had the most flash floods, 44 of 120. Of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 269 have had fewer than Middlesex.
September 1, 2021: flash flood in Middlesex — 3 killed, $50.0 million damage.
NWS: “Widespread flash flooding occurred in Middlesex County with numerous road closures and over 500 water rescues. A total of three flood related fatalities were reported in the county, one in South Plainfield, one in Piscataway Township, and one in Woodbridge Township.”
July 3, 2025: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Middlesex — 2 killed, $15,000 damage.
July 14, 2025: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Middlesex — 2 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 Middlesex's ZIP code 08846 have filed 1,095 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $34.0 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Irene in 2011: 255 claims (23% of all) and $7.8 million, then Hurricane Floyd in 1999 with 176 and March 2010 Nor'easter in 2010 with 159. 94% 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, 353 have fewer than Middlesex.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene2011 | 255 | $7.8 million |
| Hurricane Floyd1999 | 176 | $3.7 million |
| March 2010 Nor'easter2010 | 159 | $4.8 million |
| Hurricane Ida2021 | 152 | $11.3 million |
| Flooding1996 | 99 | $983,000 |
| April 2007 Nor'easter2007 | 93 | $1.6 million |
Middlesex County, which includes Middlesex, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 5 floods, 5 severe storms, 4 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on September 5, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Middlesex County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for strong wind; Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding and coastal flooding; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $282.4 million a year, the 2nd highest of 21 New Jersey counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $196.8 million (70%), 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 Middlesex
- South Bound Brook, NJ2 mi
- Bound Brook, NJ2 mi
- Green Brook, NJ2 mi
- Piscataway, NJ3 mi
- Martinsville, NJ3 mi
- Warren, NJ4 mi
- South Plainfield, NJ5 mi
- Somerset, NJ5 mi
- Plainfield, NJ5 mi
- Manville, NJ5 mi
- Watchung, NJ6 mi
- Bridgewater, NJ6 mi
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