NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Mystic, CT
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 Mystic, Connecticut since 1851, 13 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 12 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 13
- Tropical storms
- 45
- Tornadoes
- 12
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Mystic
The strongest storm to pass near Mystic was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds when its centre passed 12 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Carol in 1954, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Mystic begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 36 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1960s, with 6 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 58 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Mystic has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 95% of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site. The highest rating among the 12 tornadoes within 25 miles is F1 or EF1, reached 7 times; the most recent, on August 18, 2023, came within 24 miles. Of the 12, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 6 have come since 2000. June and August have had the most tornadoes, 3 each. Of the 186 Connecticut cities, 96% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Mystic. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 21 times since 1969, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 186 Connecticut cities, 87% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Mystic.
Compare Mystic's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Mystic
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | HenriAug 22 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | BerylJul 21 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | HermineAug 31 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 9 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 22 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 52 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1961 | EstherSep 21 | 69 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 17 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | EdnaSep 11 | 68 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | overhead | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 21 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 13 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 48 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 2 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 30 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 21 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 10 | 70 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 12 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 40 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 12 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 2 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 21 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Mystic: 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 Mystic
By decade
- 2020s3
- 2010s3
- 1990s3
- 1980s1
- 1970s1
- 1960s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF1 | 24 mi | 2.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 13, 2021 | EF1 | 7 mi | 1.36 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 29, 2018 | EF1 | 6 mi | 1.96 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 1998 | F1 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 14, 1992 | F1 | 25 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 1974 | F1 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 19, 1963 | F1 | 20 mi | 12.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 13, 2021 | EF0 | 24 mi | 6.13 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 29, 2018 | EF0 | 6 mi | 2.33 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 2012 | EF0 | 24 mi | 3.83 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 1998 | F0 | 25 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 1, 1983 | F0 | 25 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 12, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Mystic
The Storm Prediction Center has 21 hail reports within 10 miles of Mystic since 1969, made on 15 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 29, 1969. The most recent report is from August 15, 2024. May has the most reports, 6.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Mystic
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Groton, CT, 3 miles west of Mystic at 40 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 81°F and low of 66°F; January is the coolest, at 39°F and 24°F. March is the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and February and July the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 48.9 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 49% of the year's precipitation (24.0 of 48.9 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 58 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal September there has highs of 74°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 3 days a year, almost all from July. Lows fall below freezing on about 101 nights a year. Snowfall averages 24.5 inches a year, most of it in February. That 48.9 inches is more than at 11 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (41%). Stonington, 3 miles east, has its own station (Westerly State Airport, RI): 42.9 inches a year, 6.0 less than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 81°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station New London, CT, 6 miles west, averaged 71°F in August and 39°F in February over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the New London tide gauge, 6 miles from Mystic, has risen 1.16 ± 0.04 inches per decade from 1938 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 11.6 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 66 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39 | 24 | 3.9 | 7 | 5.8 | 41 |
| Feb | 41 | 25 | 3.4 | 7 | 8.3 | 39 |
| Mar | 47 | 32 | 4.9 | 8 | 3.9 | 43 |
| Apr | 57 | 41 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.8 | 49 |
| May | 66 | 50 | 3.7 | 7 | 0.0 | 56 |
| Jun | 75 | 59 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.0 | 64 |
| Jul | 81 | 66 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.0 | 71 |
| Aug | 80 | 65 | 4.2 | 6 | 0.0 | 71 |
| Sep | 74 | 58 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 | 70 |
| Oct | 63 | 47 | 4.4 | 6 | 0.0 | 63 |
| Nov | 53 | 38 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.5 | 55 |
| Dec | 44 | 30 | 4.6 | 8 | 5.2 | 46 |
| Year | 60 | 44 | 48.9 | 81 | 24.5 | 56 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Groton, CT (40 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station New London, CT, 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.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Mystic
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 97 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Mystic: 44 flash floods, 35 thunderstorm wind reports, 13 floods, 4 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 2 people and injured 14, and the NWS estimated $2.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on June 24, 2008. July has had the most flash floods, 18 of 44. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 129 have had fewer than Mystic.
September 6, 2017: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Mystic — 1 killed, 2 injured, $15,000 damage.
August 4, 2015: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Mystic — 1 killed, $10,000 damage.
June 25, 2012: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Mystic — 11 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 Mystic's ZIP code 06355 have filed 258 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $3.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Sandy in 2012: 105 claims (41% of all) and $2.7 million, then March 2010 Nor'easter in 2010 with 48 and Not a named storm in 1982 with 18. 74% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 128 Connecticut cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 105 have fewer than Mystic.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Sandy2012 | 105 | $2.7 million |
| March 2010 Nor'easter2010 | 48 | $382,000 |
| Not a named storm1982 | 18 | $13,000 |
New London County, which includes Mystic, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 9 severe storms, 7 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on October 30, 2021.
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).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.