NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Rockport, 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
45 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Rockport, Massachusetts since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 12 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 36
- Tornadoes
- 12
- 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 Rockport
The strongest storm to pass near Rockport was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 2 hurricane with 104 mph winds when its centre passed 18 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Bob in 1991, whose centre came within 7 miles. The record near Rockport begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 18 miles away. Of the 45 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site, 65% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Rockport. The highest rating among the 12 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 4 times; the most recent, on May 21, 2006, came within 22 miles. Of the 12, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and one has come since 2000. July and August have had the most tornadoes, 4 each. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 94% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Rockport. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 2 times since 1961, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 99% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Rockport.
Compare Rockport's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Rockport
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 5 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 14 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 7 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 70 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1961 | EstherSep 26 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 13 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 31 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | EdnaSep 11 | 53 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 46 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 31 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 45 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 17 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 10 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 26 | 66 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 23 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 58 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormOct 4 | 18 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 26 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Rockport: 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 Rockport
By decade
- 2000s1
- 1990s1
- 1970s2
- 1960s4
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2006 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Aug 25, 1958 | F2 | 21 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1956 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F2 | 19 mi | 9.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 15, 1991 | F1 | 19 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1972 | F1 | 25 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 1971 | F1 | 24 mi | 25.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jul 1, 1968 | F1 | 19 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 10, 1965 | F1 | 5 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 1964 | F1 | 16 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1962 | F1 | 15 mi | 2.7 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Dec 18, 1956 | F1 | 25 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 12, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Rockport
The Storm Prediction Center has 2 hail reports within 10 miles of Rockport since 1961. All were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on July 2, 1961. The most recent report is from June 4, 1972.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Rockport
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Beverly, MA, 12 miles southwest of Rockport at 65 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 80°F and low of 60°F; January is the coolest, at 37°F and 18°F. October is the wettest at 5.0 inches of precipitation on average and July and August the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 48.0 inches over 84 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 49% of the year's precipitation (23.6 of 48.0 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 45 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 72°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 5 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 133 nights a year. Snowfall averages 51.4 inches a year, most of it in February. That 48.0 inches is more than at 26 of the 65 Massachusetts stations used on this site (40%). Beverly, 15 miles southwest, has its own station (Beverly Municipal Airport, MA): 44.9 inches a year, 3.1 less than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 80°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37 | 18 | 3.7 | 7 | 16.0 |
| Feb | 39 | 18 | 3.6 | 7 | 16.4 |
| Mar | 45 | 25 | 4.6 | 7 | 7.6 |
| Apr | 57 | 34 | 4.2 | 8 | 1.4 |
| May | 66 | 44 | 3.5 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 75 | 54 | 4.0 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 80 | 60 | 3.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 79 | 58 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 61 | 40 | 5.0 | 6 | 0.3 |
| Nov | 51 | 31 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.9 |
| Dec | 42 | 24 | 4.8 | 8 | 8.8 |
| Year | 59 | 38 | 48.0 | 84 | 51.4 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Beverly, MA (65 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 Rockport
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 17 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Rockport: 10 thunderstorm wind reports, 4 floods and 3 lightning strikes. They killed 3 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $9.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 60 mph, on April 26, 1999.
September 6, 2014: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Rockport — 2 killed.
March 14, 2010: flood 8 miles from the centre of Rockport — 1 killed, 1 injured, $9.8 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 Rockport's ZIP code 01966 have filed 291 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $4.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from The "Halloween" Storm in 1991: 130 claims (45% of all) and $2.8 million, then Flooding in 1978 with 38 and December Storm - Nor'easter in 1992 with 19. 67% 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, 203 have fewer than Rockport.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| The "Halloween" Storm1991 | 130 | $2.8 million |
| Flooding1978 | 38 | $406,000 |
| December Storm - Nor'easter1992 | 19 | $126,000 |
Essex County, which includes Rockport, has been named in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 25 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 severe storms, 8 snowstorms, 7 floods, 7 hurricanes). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 27, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Essex County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding; Relatively High for hurricanes, tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $198.8 million a year, the 2nd highest of 14 Massachusetts counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $124.6 million (63%), 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.