NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Raritan, NJ
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 Raritan, New Jersey since 1851, 7 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 72 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 7
- Tropical storms
- 35
- Tornadoes
- 72
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Raritan
The strongest storm to pass near Raritan was Gloria in 1985, a Category 1 hurricane with 89 mph winds when its centre passed 64 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 39 miles. The record near Raritan begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 32 miles away. Of the 42 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site, 46% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Raritan. The highest rating among the 72 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on October 18, 1990, came within 9 miles. Of the 72, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 23 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 14. The most recent tornado was on June 14, 2024. Raritan has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 85% of the 455 New Jersey cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 53 times since 1962, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 59% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Raritan.
Compare Raritan's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Raritan
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | FayJul 11 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | SandyOct 30 | 69 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 64 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 68 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 22 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 67 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 14 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 72 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 39 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 24 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 66 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Raritan: 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 Raritan
By decade
- 2020s9
- 2010s8
- 2000s6
- 1990s18(1 EF3+)
- 1980s13
- 1970s9(3 EF3+)
- 1960s6(1 EF3+)
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1990 | F3 | 9 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Sep 26, 1977 | F3 | 12 mi | 5.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 1973 | F3 | 20 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 12 |
| May 28, 1973 | F3 | 17 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1960 | F3 | 21 mi | 12.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 21, 2023 | EF2 | 20 mi | 5.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF2 | 22 mi | 6.31 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2001 | F2 | 22 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 17, 1988 | F2 | 21 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 26, 1981 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 20, 1981 | F2 | 21 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 1974 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 72, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Raritan
The Storm Prediction Center has 53 hail reports within 10 miles of Raritan since 1962, made on 42 separate days. Of these, 24 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 4 days, most recently August 17, 2007. The most recent report is from September 6, 2025. July has the most reports, 14.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Raritan
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Somerville 4 NW, NJ, 3 miles north of Raritan at 134 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 86°F and low of 62°F; January is the coolest, at 39°F and 19°F. July is the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 46.8 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (24.5 of 46.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 42 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (15); a normal September there has highs of 77°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 16 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 137 nights a year. That 46.8 inches is more than at 18 of the 51 New Jersey stations used on this site (35%). Hillsborough, 5 miles south, has its own station (Wertsville 4 NE, NJ): 51.1 inches a year, 4.3 more than here, and a July average high of 85°F against 86°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39 | 19 | 3.6 | 7 |
| Feb | 41 | 20 | 2.8 | 5 |
| Mar | 50 | 27 | 4.1 | 8 |
| Apr | 62 | 36 | 4.0 | 7 |
| May | 72 | 46 | 3.4 | 7 |
| Jun | 81 | 56 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Jul | 86 | 62 | 4.7 | 7 |
| Aug | 83 | 60 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Sep | 77 | 53 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Oct | 64 | 41 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Nov | 54 | 31 | 3.2 | 5 |
| Dec | 43 | 24 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Year | 63 | 40 | 46.8 | 77 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Somerville 4 NW, NJ (134 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 Raritan
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 467 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Raritan: 282 thunderstorm wind reports, 87 floods, 66 flash floods, 18 heavy rain events and 14 lightning strikes. They killed 8 people and injured 9, and the NWS estimated $231.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 79 mph, on July 22, 2003. July has had the most flash floods, 24 of 66. Of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 210 have had fewer than Raritan.
September 1, 2021: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Raritan — 3 killed, $50.0 million damage.
September 1, 2021: flash flood 3 miles from the centre of Raritan — 3 killed, $26.0 million damage.
NWS: “Widespread flash flooding occurred in the northern half of Somerset County with numerous roads closures. There were three flood related fatalities in northern Somerset County, all in Bridgewater Township.”
September 1, 2021: flash flood 3 miles from the centre of Raritan — 2 killed, $85.0 million damage.
NWS: “Widespread flash flooding occurred in the southern half of Somerset County with numerous road closures. There were two flood related fatalities in southern Somerset County, both in Hillsborough Township.”
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 Raritan's ZIP code 08869 have filed 19 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $3.7 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 84% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 395 New Jersey cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 51 have fewer than Raritan.
Somerset County, which includes Raritan, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 5 floods, 4 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on September 5, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Somerset County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and heat waves; Very Low for hail and coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $160.6 million a year, the 11th highest of 21 New Jersey counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $125.7 million (78%), 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 Raritan
- Bridgewater, NJ1 mi
- Somerville, NJ2 mi
- Manville, NJ3 mi
- Martinsville, NJ5 mi
- Hillsborough, NJ5 mi
- Bound Brook, NJ5 mi
- Bedminster, NJ6 mi
- South Bound Brook, NJ6 mi
- Branchburg, NJ6 mi
- Middlesex, NJ7 mi
- Whitehouse Station, NJ7 mi
- Belle Mead, NJ8 mi
All New Jersey cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Raritan with another place →