NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit New Fairfield, 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
42 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of New Fairfield, Connecticut since 1851, 6 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 51 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 6
- Tropical storms
- 36
- Tornadoes
- 51
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for New Fairfield
The strongest storm to pass near New Fairfield was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 3 hurricane with 110 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 5 miles. The record near New Fairfield begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 69 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 5 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 42 systems, 6 have come since 2000. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site, 96% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than New Fairfield. The highest rating among the 51 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on July 29, 1971, came within 24 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on May 24, 1962, killed 1 person. Of the 51, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 25 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 16. The most recent tornado was on August 12, 2023. New Fairfield has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 56% of the 186 Connecticut cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 43 times since 1992, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). New Fairfield has more hail reports within 10 miles than 61% of the 186 Connecticut cities.
Compare New Fairfield's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near New Fairfield
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 26 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 22 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | overhead | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 54 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 30 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 53 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 5 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 67 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in New Fairfield: 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 New Fairfield
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s9
- 2000s11
- 1990s9
- 1980s5
- 1970s6(1 EF3+)
- 1960s2(1 EF3+)
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 1962 | F3 | 20 mi | 11.6 mi | 1 / 50 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | F3 | 24 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 15, 2018 | EF2 | 9 mi | 1.18 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 10 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 21 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 70 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | F2 | 22 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Jun 12, 1973 | F2 | 22 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | F2 | 11 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 24, 1955 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F2 | 11 mi | 43.9 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Jul 14, 1950 | F2 | 14 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Nov 12, 2021 | EF1 | 22 mi | 2.44 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 51, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in New Fairfield
The Storm Prediction Center has 43 hail reports within 10 miles of New Fairfield since 1992, made on 32 separate days. Of these, 24 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), fell on May 31, 1998. The most recent report is from June 2, 2023. June and July have the most reports, 13 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in New Fairfield
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Danbury, CT, 6 miles southeast of New Fairfield at 405 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 85°F and low of 64°F; January is the coolest, at 36°F and 21°F. July and October are the wettest at 5.0 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 53.0 inches over 86 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (28.6 of 53.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 42 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 75°F and 4.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 20 days a year, almost all from May to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 126 nights a year. Snowfall averages 49.3 inches a year, most of it in January. That 53.0 inches is more than at 22 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (81%). Patterson, NY, 4 miles west, has its own station (Carmel 4N, NY): 50.5 inches a year, 2.5 less than here, and a July average high of 78°F against 85°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36 | 21 | 3.7 | 7 | 15.7 |
| Feb | 39 | 22 | 3.3 | 7 | 11.0 |
| Mar | 48 | 29 | 4.4 | 8 | 10.4 |
| Apr | 61 | 39 | 4.2 | 8 | 1.7 |
| May | 72 | 49 | 4.2 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 80 | 59 | 4.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 85 | 64 | 5.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 82 | 63 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 75 | 55 | 4.9 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 5.0 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 50 | 34 | 4.0 | 7 | 1.9 |
| Dec | 40 | 26 | 4.6 | 8 | 8.6 |
| Year | 61 | 42 | 53.0 | 86 | 49.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Danbury, CT (405 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 New Fairfield
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 280 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of New Fairfield: 212 thunderstorm wind reports, 46 flash floods, 17 floods, 4 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 3 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $1.7 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on July 18, 2012. July has had the most flash floods, 17 of 46. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 135 have had fewer than New Fairfield.
May 15, 2018: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of New Fairfield — 1 killed, 1 injured, $5,000 damage.
May 15, 2018: thunderstorm wind in New Fairfield — 1 killed, $5,000 damage.
NWS: “Tree fell on a car on Brush Hill Road, killing one person inside.”
June 22, 2011: heavy rain event 7 miles from the centre of New Fairfield — 1 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 New Fairfield's ZIP code 06812 have filed 16 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $41,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 50% 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, 18 have fewer than New Fairfield.
Fairfield County, which includes New Fairfield, has been named in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 8 severe storms, 8 snowstorms, 3 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, on September 20, 2024.
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.