NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Putnam, 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
53 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Putnam, Connecticut since 1851, 10 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 45 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 10
- Tropical storms
- 43
- Tornadoes
- 45
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Putnam
The strongest storm to pass near Putnam was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 2 hurricane with 108 mph winds when its centre passed 20 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Donna in 1960, whose centre came within 1 mile. The record near Putnam begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 70 miles away. The 1870s and the 1960s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 53 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site, 47% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Putnam. The highest rating among the 45 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on June 1, 2011, came within 14 miles. Of the 45, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 25 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 15. The most recent tornado was on June 26, 2024. Of the 186 Connecticut cities, 52% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Putnam. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 41 times since 1979, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Putnam has more hail reports within 10 miles than 58% of the 186 Connecticut cities.
Compare Putnam's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Putnam
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | HenriAug 22 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | HermineAug 31 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 39 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 40 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 1 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 4 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 2 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 33 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 55 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 31 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 47 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 10 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 64 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 20 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 7 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Putnam: 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 Putnam
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s13(1 EF3+)
- 2000s2
- 1990s3
- 1980s6
- 1970s1
- 1960s4
- 1950s6(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2011 | EF3 | 14 mi | 37.58 mi | 3 / 200 |
| Jun 9, 1953 | F3 | 19 mi | 28 mi | 0 / 17 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF2 | 18 mi | 9.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 7, 1986 | F2 | 24 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 20 |
| Aug 19, 1965 | F2 | 23 mi | 6.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 12, 1962 | F2 | 12 mi | 4.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 7, 1958 | F2 | 21 mi | 1.3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Aug 20, 1951 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 26, 2024 | EF1 | 23 mi | 8.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 13, 2023 | EF1 | 21 mi | 0.21 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 13, 2023 | EF1 | 12 mi | 0.21 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 13, 2023 | EF1 | 8 mi | 1.61 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 45, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Putnam
The Storm Prediction Center has 41 hail reports within 10 miles of Putnam since 1979, made on 27 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently May 8, 2024. The most recent report is from July 3, 2025. July has the most reports, 16.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Putnam
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is W Thompson Lake, CT, 2 miles northwest of Putnam at 360 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 82°F and low of 60°F; January is the coolest, at 35°F and 15°F. October is the wettest at 4.8 inches of precipitation on average and May the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 50.1 inches over 84 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (25.6 of 50.1 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 53 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (21); a normal September there has highs of 73°F and 3.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 8 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 156 nights a year. Snowfall averages 38.5 inches a year, most of it in February. That 50.1 inches is more than at 13 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (48%). Dayville, 5 miles south, has its own station (N Foster 1 E, RI): 53.8 inches a year, 3.7 more than here, and a July average high of 80°F against 82°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35 | 15 | 3.8 | 8 | 10.6 |
| Feb | 38 | 17 | 3.5 | 7 | 11.6 |
| Mar | 46 | 24 | 4.5 | 7 | 7.2 |
| Apr | 58 | 34 | 4.6 | 8 | 1.5 |
| May | 69 | 45 | 3.4 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 76 | 54 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 82 | 60 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 80 | 58 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 73 | 51 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 61 | 38 | 4.8 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Nov | 50 | 30 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.9 |
| Dec | 40 | 22 | 4.7 | 8 | 6.5 |
| Year | 59 | 37 | 50.1 | 84 | 38.5 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at W Thompson Lake, CT (360 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 Putnam
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 143 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Putnam: 118 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 floods, 8 lightning strikes and 3 flash floods. They killed 0 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $1.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on May 15, 2018.
August 5, 2005: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Putnam — 2 injured, $30,000 damage.
August 12, 2016: flash flood 6 miles from the centre of Putnam — $100,000 damage.
June 6, 2023: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Putnam — $100,000 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
Windham County, which includes Putnam, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 14 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 8 severe storms, 7 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Isaias, on January 12, 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.