NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Salem, NH
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
44 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Salem, New Hampshire since 1851, 6 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 42 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 6
- Tropical storms
- 38
- Tornadoes
- 42
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for Salem
The strongest storm to pass near Salem was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 2 hurricane with 104 mph winds when its centre passed 49 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1869, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Salem begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 46 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1960s, with 6 systems. Of the 44 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Salem has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 72% of the 142 New Hampshire cities on this site. The highest rating among the 42 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on September 29, 1974, came within 12 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on October 3, 1970, killed 1 person. Of the 42, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 2 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on August 22, 2016. Salem has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 92% of the 142 New Hampshire cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 91 times since 1965, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Salem has more hail reports within 10 miles than 97% of the 142 New Hampshire cities.
Compare Salem's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Salem
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 5 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | overhead | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 14 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 38 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 39 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1961 | EstherSep 26 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | overhead | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 14 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 31 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 72 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 17 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 10 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormOct 4 | 49 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 5 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 58 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 Salem: 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 Salem
By decade
- 2010s1
- 2000s1
- 1990s1
- 1980s3
- 1970s8(2 EF3+)
- 1960s16
- 1950s12(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 1970 | F3 | 22 mi | 35.4 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Sep 29, 1974 | F3 | 12 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 9, 1953 | F3 | 17 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 5 |
| May 21, 2006 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jul 21, 1972 | F2 | 13 mi | 7.6 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Aug 28, 1965 | F2 | 9 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 1963 | F2 | 11 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 2, 1961 | F2 | in town | 5.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 25, 1958 | F2 | 21 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 11, 1958 | F2 | 21 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1956 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F2 | 5 mi | 4.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 42, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Salem
The Storm Prediction Center has 91 hail reports within 10 miles of Salem since 1965, made on 47 separate days. Of these, 55 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 3 days, most recently August 31, 1973. The most recent report is from September 8, 2023. June has the most reports, 38.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Salem
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Lawrence, MA, 7 miles south of Salem at 50 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 83°F and low of 65°F; January is the coolest, at 35°F and 20°F. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 49% of the year's precipitation (24.0 of 49.4 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 44 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (17); 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 124 nights a year. That 49.4 inches is more than at 32 of the 39 New Hampshire stations used on this site (82%). Atkinson, 4 miles northeast, has its own station (W Hampstead, NH): 46.7 inches a year, 2.7 less than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 83°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35 | 20 | 4.2 |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 3.8 |
| Mar | 45 | 30 | 4.7 |
| Apr | 57 | 40 | 4.2 |
| May | 68 | 50 | 3.8 |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 4.1 |
| Jul | 83 | 65 | 3.7 |
| Aug | 81 | 64 | 3.7 |
| Sep | 74 | 56 | 3.9 |
| Oct | 62 | 44 | 4.7 |
| Nov | 51 | 35 | 3.9 |
| Dec | 41 | 26 | 4.7 |
| Year | 59 | 43 | 49.4 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Lawrence, MA (50 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 Salem
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 168 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Salem: 125 thunderstorm wind reports, 20 floods, 15 flash floods and 8 lightning strikes. They killed 1 person and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $1.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on July 18, 2016. July has had the most flash floods, 5 of 15. Of the 141 New Hampshire cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 104 have had fewer than Salem.
June 20, 2008: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Salem — 1 killed, 1 injured.
September 6, 2014: lightning strike 10 miles from the centre of Salem — 1 injured.
August 7, 2018: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Salem — 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 Salem's ZIP code 03079 have filed 134 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $2.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1996: 22 claims (16% of all) and $285,000, then March 2010 Nor'easter in 2010 with 11. The year with the most claims was 2006, with 57. 25% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 60 New Hampshire cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 54 have fewer than Salem.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1996 | 22 | $285,000 |
| March 2010 Nor'easter2010 | 11 | $149,000 |
Rockingham County, which includes Salem, has been named in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 24 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 severe storms, 6 snowstorms, 5 floods, 5 hurricanes). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm and Flooding, on July 10, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Rockingham County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for coastal flooding; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $89.8 million a year, the 2nd highest of 10 New Hampshire counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $54.0 million (60%), 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.