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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Norwell, MA

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

50 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Norwell, Massachusetts since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 25 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
11

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
39

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
25

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
1

2 deaths in all

What the records show for Norwell

The strongest storm to pass near Norwell was Edna in 1954, a Category 2 hurricane with 106 mph winds when its centre passed 40 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1944, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Norwell begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 68 miles away. Of the 50 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Norwell has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 49% of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site. The strongest of the 25 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on June 9, 1953; its path came within 21 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on August 9, 1972, killed 1 person. Of the 25, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 8 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 8. The most recent tornado was on August 18, 2023. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 82% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Norwell. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 34 times since 1956, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 80% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Norwell.

Compare Norwell's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Norwell

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Norwell, Massachusetts, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021IdaSep 268 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
2021ElsaJul 91 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2013AndreaJun 84 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2008HannaSep 711 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2007BarryJun 48 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2006BerylJul 2169 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
2004HermineAug 3145 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1999FloydSep 1746 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 4
1996JosephineOct 961 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1996BerthaJul 1435 miTropical storm (68 mph)Category 3
1991BobAug 19overheadCategory 1 (89 mph)Category 3
1966AlmaJun 1420 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1961EstherSep 2635 miTropical storm (54 mph)Category 5
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 1546 miTropical storm (66 mph)Tropical storm
1960DonnaSep 1240 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 4
1960BrendaJul 3062 miTropical storm (47 mph)Tropical storm
1959CindyJul 1125 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1954EdnaSep 1140 miCategory 2 (106 mph)Category 3
1954CarolAug 3145 miCategory 2 (102 mph)Category 3
1952Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 473 miTropical storm (62 mph)Tropical storm
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15overheadCategory 1 (74 mph)Category 5
1934Unnamed 1934 stormSep 965 miTropical storm (48 mph)Category 2
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 2042 miTropical storm (47 mph)Category 2
1923Unnamed 1923 stormOct 193 miTropical storm (53 mph)Tropical storm
1916Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21overheadTropical storm (61 mph)Category 2
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1736 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 551 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1908Unnamed 1908 stormMay 3129 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1907Unnamed 1907 stormJun 3019 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1525 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1717 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1897Unnamed 1897 stormSep 2431 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1896Unnamed 1896 stormSep 108 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 1046 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 3
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2542 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 2660 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 1
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1210 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 226 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 3
1880Unnamed 1880 stormOct 2359 miTropical storm (69 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormAug 1939 miCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 3
1878Unnamed 1878 stormOct 2445 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 542 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 3055 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 2714 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1869Unnamed 1869 stormOct 425 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1869Unnamed 1869 stormSep 827 miCategory 2 (101 mph)Category 3
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 325 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 2848 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1858Unnamed 1858 stormSep 1639 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 2
1851Unnamed 1851 stormOct 1941 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Norwell: 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 Norwell

By decade

  • 2020s4
  • 2010s4
  • 1990s2
  • 1980s4
  • 1970s4
  • 1960s3
  • 1950s4(1 EF3+)
Strongest tornadoes near Norwell, Massachusetts
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Jun 9, 1953F321 mi28 mi0 / 17
Jul 28, 2014EF220 mi1.93 mi0 / 2
Nov 18, 1967F213 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Nov 21, 1956F218 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Aug 9, 1972F122 mi4.9 mi1 / 6
Aug 18, 2023EF17 mi0.35 mi0 / 0
Aug 18, 2023EF125 mi7.6 mi0 / 0
Jul 29, 2023EF120 mi0.16 mi0 / 0
Oct 23, 2018EF123 mi0.8 mi0 / 0
Jul 10, 1989F111 mi0.1 mi0 / 1
Sep 16, 1986F16 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Sep 6, 1973F120 mi1.1 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 25, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Norwell

The Storm Prediction Center has 34 hail reports within 10 miles of Norwell since 1956, made on 24 separate days. Of these, 15 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on July 2, 2004. The most recent report is from August 14, 2025. July has the most reports, 12.

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

Weather by month in Norwell

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hingham, MA, 7 miles northwest of Norwell at 35 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 83°F and low of 63°F; January is the coolest, at 38°F and 22°F. March is the wettest at 5.4 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 3.6 inches; the year adds up to 52.3 inches over 84 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 48% of the year's precipitation (24.9 of 52.3 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 50 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 74°F and 3.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 13 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 115 nights a year. Snowfall averages 50.9 inches a year, most of it in January. That 52.3 inches is more than at 56 of the 65 Massachusetts stations used on this site (86%). Pembroke, 6 miles south, has its own station (Plymouth-Kingston, MA): 52.7 inches a year, 0.4 more than here, and a July average high of 84°F against 83°F.

Sea level at the Boston tide gauge, 18 miles from Norwell, has risen 1.17 ± 0.03 inches per decade from 1921 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 11.7 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 68 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Hingham, MA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Snow in
Jan38224.5714.8
Feb40234.0714.5
Mar47295.4710.3
Apr58384.681.7
May69483.870.0
Jun77574.070.0
Jul83633.660.0
Aug82623.860.0
Sep74553.960.0
Oct63445.270.1
Nov52354.470.7
Dec43275.188.8
Year604252.38450.9

Averages for 1991–2020 at Hingham, MA (35 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.

Massachusetts weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Norwell

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 143 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Norwell: 99 thunderstorm wind reports, 21 floods, 15 lightning strikes and 8 flash floods. They killed 0 people and injured 5, and the NWS estimated $17.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on July 6, 1999. July has had the most flash floods, 6 of 8. Of the 339 Massachusetts cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 81 have had fewer than Norwell.

  • June 20, 2010: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Norwell — 2 injured, $50,000 damage.

  • June 20, 2008: lightning strike 6 miles from the centre of Norwell — 1 injured.

  • July 20, 2008: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Norwell — 1 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 Norwell's ZIP code 02061 have filed 16 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $185,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 69% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 229 Massachusetts cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 44 have fewer than Norwell.

Plymouth County, which includes Norwell, has been named in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 21 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 7 severe storms, 6 snowstorms, 5 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, on April 18, 2022. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Plymouth County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding; Relatively High for strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Low for tornadoes; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $114.3 million a year, the 6th highest of 14 Massachusetts counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $71.4 million (62%), 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 Norwell