NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Orleans, 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
59 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Orleans, Massachusetts since 1851, 15 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Wanda in 2021. Since 1950, 6 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 15
- Tropical storms
- 44
- Tornadoes
- 6
- 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 Orleans
The strongest storm to pass near Orleans was Gerda in 1969, a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds when its centre passed 52 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1888, whose centre came within 9 miles. The record near Orleans begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Wanda in 2021, a tropical storm 39 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 11 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 59 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Orleans has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 90% of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site. The highest rating among the 6 tornadoes within 25 miles is F1 or EF1, reached 4 times; the most recent, on July 23, 2019, came within 13 miles. Of the 6, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 5 have come since 2000. The most recent tornado was on August 8, 2023. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 98% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Orleans. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 9 times since 1994, with stones up to 1 inch (quarter size). Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 98% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Orleans.
Compare Orleans's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Orleans
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | WandaOct 27 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | BerylJul 21 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | HermineAug 31 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1997 | DannyJul 25 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 9 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 51 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1988 | AlbertoAug 7 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1973 | AlfaAug 1 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | CarrieSep 3 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | HeidiSep 14 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1969 | GerdaSep 9 | 52 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1962 | AlmaAug 29 | 59 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1961 | EstherSep 26 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 20 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | EdnaSep 11 | 10 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormJul 15 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 4 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 21 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 50 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormSep 2 | 68 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormSep 19 | 60 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 17 | 40 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormAug 26 | 28 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormAug 10 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 23 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 17 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 10 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 1 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormOct 14 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormNov 27 | 49 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 12 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 26 | 9 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 21 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 23 | 38 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 12 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 11 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 23 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 9 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormOct 15 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 30 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormOct 4 | 21 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 21 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Orleans: 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 Orleans
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s3
- 1970s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2019 | EF1 | 6 mi | 2.77 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 2019 | EF1 | 17 mi | 0.25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 2019 | EF1 | 13 mi | 5.52 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 22, 1977 | F1 | 18 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Aug 8, 2023 | EF0 | 22 mi | 1.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF0 | 13 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 6 of 6, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Orleans
The Storm Prediction Center has 9 hail reports within 10 miles of Orleans since 1994, made on 8 separate days. Of these, 3 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1 inch (quarter size), was reported on 3 days, most recently May 8, 2024. The most recent report is from May 8, 2024.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Orleans
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Chatham Municipal Airport, MA, 6 miles south of Orleans at 68 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 79°F and low of 64°F; January is the coolest, at 39°F and 26°F. December is the wettest at 5.0 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 45.2 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 47% of the year's precipitation (21.1 of 45.2 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 59 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 71°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 1 days a year. Lows fall below freezing on about 92 nights a year. That 45.2 inches is more than at 13 of the 65 Massachusetts stations used on this site (20%). South Dennis, 11 miles southwest, has its own station (Hyannis Barnstable Municipal Airport, MA): 44.8 inches a year, 0.4 less than here, and a July average high of 81°F against 79°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Chatham, MA, 6 miles south, averaged 69°F in August and 39°F in February over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Nantucket Island tide gauge, 35 miles from Orleans, has risen 1.63 ± 0.06 inches per decade from 1965 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 16.3 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 101 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39 | 26 | 3.8 | 8 | 40 |
| Feb | 40 | 26 | 3.6 | 7 | 39 |
| Mar | 44 | 31 | 4.4 | 8 | 42 |
| Apr | 52 | 39 | 4.0 | 8 | 49 |
| May | 62 | 48 | 3.3 | 7 | 56 |
| Jun | 72 | 57 | 3.0 | 6 | 63 |
| Jul | 79 | 64 | 2.8 | 5 | 69 |
| Aug | 78 | 64 | 3.0 | 5 | 69 |
| Sep | 71 | 58 | 3.6 | 5 | 67 |
| Oct | 61 | 47 | 4.2 | 7 | 60 |
| Nov | 52 | 39 | 4.5 | 7 | 50 |
| Dec | 44 | 31 | 5.0 | 9 | 44 |
| Year | 58 | 44 | 45.2 | 80 | 54 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Chatham Municipal Airport, MA (68 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Chatham, MA, 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 Orleans
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 40 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Orleans: 15 floods, 15 thunderstorm wind reports, 7 lightning strikes and 3 flash floods. They killed 1 person and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $1.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on July 23, 2019.
July 1, 2009: lightning strike 3 miles from the centre of Orleans — 1 killed.
NWS: “A 41 year old man was out digging for quahogs (clams) on the tidal flats of Little Pleasant Bay, a quarter mile east of Sipsons Island when he was struck by lightning and killed.”
August 28, 2012: lightning strike 4 miles from the centre of Orleans — 2 injured.
July 23, 2019: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Orleans — $1.0 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 Orleans's ZIP code 02653 have filed 39 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $589,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 2018, with 10. 33% 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, 114 have fewer than Orleans.
Barnstable County, which includes Orleans, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 14 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 5 snowstorms, 4 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 27, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Barnstable County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding; Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for tornadoes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $82.3 million a year, the 9th highest of 14 Massachusetts counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $44.2 million (54%), 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 Orleans
- Eastham, MA5 mi
- Brewster, MA6 mi
- Chatham, MA6 mi
- Harwich, MA6 mi
- Wellfleet, MA10 mi
- South Dennis, MA11 mi
- Dennis Port, MA12 mi
- Dennis, MA12 mi
- South Yarmouth, MA14 mi
- Yarmouth Port, MA14 mi
- West Yarmouth, MA16 mi
- Barnstable, MA17 mi
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