NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Nassau, 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
24 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Nassau, New York since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 34 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 21
- Tornadoes
- 34
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
7 deaths in all
What the records show for Nassau
The strongest storm to pass near Nassau was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 1 hurricane with 87 mph winds when its centre passed 30 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 21 miles. The record near Nassau begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 21 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1970s, with 4 systems. Of the 24 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Nassau has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 57% of the 809 New York cities on this site. The highest rating among the 34 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 3 times; the most recent, on May 29, 1995, came within 24 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on August 28, 1973, killed 4 people. Of the 34, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 14 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 16. The most recent tornado was on July 27, 2014. Nassau has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 66% of the 809 New York cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 71 times since 1965, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Nassau has more hail reports within 10 miles than 81% of the 809 New York cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Nassau
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 57 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 23 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 30 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 21 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | overhead | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Nassau: 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 Nassau
By decade
- 2010s3
- 2000s11
- 1990s8(1 EF3+)
- 1980s3(1 EF3+)
- 1970s6(2 EF3+)
- 1960s3(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1973 | F4 | 12 mi | 9.8 mi | 4 / 36 |
| May 29, 1995 | F4 | 24 mi | 11.5 mi | 3 / 24 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F4 | 24 mi | 42 mi | 0 / 20 |
| Jun 16, 1974 | F3 | 12 mi | 49.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1960 | F3 | 24 mi | 16 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F2 | 10 mi | 1.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F2 | 25 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 7 |
| May 31, 1998 | F2 | 4 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1997 | F2 | 10 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1995 | F2 | 22 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Jul 13, 1975 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 1966 | F2 | 25 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 34, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Nassau
The Storm Prediction Center has 71 hail reports within 10 miles of Nassau since 1965, made on 51 separate days. Of these, 34 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 3 days, most recently August 4, 2015. The most recent report is from July 20, 2025. June has the most reports, 22.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Nassau
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Valatie 1 N, NY, 7 miles southwest of Nassau at 300 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 84°F and low of 62°F; January is the coolest, at 34°F and 16°F. September is the wettest at 4.6 inches of precipitation on average and January and February the driest at 2.2 inches; the year adds up to 42.1 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 59% of the year's precipitation (24.8 of 42.1 inches); the other six months are drier. Highs reach 90°F on about 10 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 144 nights a year. That 42.1 inches is more than at 58 of the 137 New York stations used on this site (42%). East Greenbush, 6 miles northwest, has its own station (Troy L&D, NY): 42.0 inches a year, 0.1 less than here, and a July average high of 86°F against 84°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34 | 16 | 2.2 | 6 |
| Feb | 37 | 18 | 2.2 | 5 |
| Mar | 45 | 27 | 2.9 | 7 |
| Apr | 59 | 37 | 3.3 | 8 |
| May | 71 | 48 | 3.8 | 8 |
| Jun | 79 | 58 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Jul | 84 | 62 | 3.8 | 7 |
| Aug | 82 | 60 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Sep | 75 | 52 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Oct | 62 | 41 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Nov | 50 | 32 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Dec | 39 | 23 | 2.9 | 6 |
| Year | 60 | 39 | 42.1 | 81 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Valatie 1 N, NY (300 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 Nassau
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 298 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Nassau: 260 thunderstorm wind reports, 17 flash floods, 15 floods, 4 lightning strikes and 2 heavy rain events. They killed 0 people and injured 6, and the NWS estimated $4.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on July 4, 2023. July has had the most flash floods, 10 of 17. Of the 798 New York cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 271 have had fewer than Nassau.
June 30, 2017: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Nassau — 4 injured.
May 31, 2007: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Nassau — 2 injured.
April 15, 2007: flood 10 miles from the centre of Nassau — $2.0 million damage.
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 Nassau's ZIP code 12123 have filed 10 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $38,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 30% 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, 0 have fewer than Nassau.
Rensselaer County, which includes Nassau, has been named in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 severe storms, 6 hurricanes, 5 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 20, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Rensselaer County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $49.0 million a year, the 21st highest of 62 New York counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $36.6 million (75%), 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 Nassau
- Castleton, NY6 mi
- East Greenbush, NY6 mi
- Valatie, NY7 mi
- West Sand Lake, NY8 mi
- Averill Park, NY8 mi
- Rensselaer, NY10 mi
- Selkirk, NY11 mi
- Glenmont, NY11 mi
- Wynantskill, NY11 mi
- Ravena, NY12 mi
- Chatham, NY12 mi
- Stuyvesant, NY13 mi
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