NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit West Tisbury, 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
67 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of West Tisbury, Massachusetts since 1851, 19 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Wanda in 2021. Since 1950, 8 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 19
- Tropical storms
- 48
- Tornadoes
- 8
- 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 West Tisbury
The strongest storm to pass near West Tisbury was Gerda in 1969, a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds when its centre passed 72 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near West Tisbury begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Wanda in 2021, a tropical storm 61 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 11 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 67 systems, 9 have come since 2000. West Tisbury has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 98% of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site. The highest rating among the 8 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 2 times; the most recent, on August 28, 1970, came within 20 miles. Of the 8, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 3 have come since 2000. The most recent tornado was on August 8, 2023. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 96% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than West Tisbury. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 10 times since 1997, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 97% have more hail reports within 10 miles than West Tisbury.
Compare West Tisbury's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near West Tisbury
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | WandaOct 27 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | HenriAug 22 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | BerylJul 21 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | HermineAug 31 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1997 | DannyJul 25 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 9 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 34 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1973 | AlfaAug 1 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | CarrieSep 3 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1969 | GerdaSep 9 | 72 mi | Category 3 (120 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1967 | Unnamed 1967 stormJun 21 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1962 | AlmaAug 29 | 69 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1961 | EstherSep 26 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 74 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 19 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | EdnaSep 11 | 7 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 66 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 4 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 21 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 40 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormSep 19 | 55 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 17 | 55 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormAug 26 | 36 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormAug 10 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 2 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 30 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 21 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 10 | 2 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 30 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormOct 14 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormNov 27 | 67 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 12 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 26 | 27 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 21 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 23 | 57 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 12 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 11 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 23 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 6 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormOct 15 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 30 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormOct 4 | 9 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 52 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 66 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 21 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in West Tisbury: 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 West Tisbury
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s1
- 1970s2
- 1960s2
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1970 | F2 | 20 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 18, 1951 | F2 | 7 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 8, 2023 | EF1 | 23 mi | 0.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 1968 | F1 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 8, 2023 | EF0 | 25 mi | 1.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 29, 2018 | EF0 | 11 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 14, 1972 | F0 | 17 mi | 4.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 1965 | F0 | 23 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 8 of 8, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in West Tisbury
The Storm Prediction Center has 10 hail reports within 10 miles of West Tisbury since 1997, made on 8 separate days. Of these, 4 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on July 2, 2009. The most recent report is from August 26, 2024. July has the most reports, 5.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in West Tisbury
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Vineyard Haven Airport, MA, 3 miles east of West Tisbury at 68 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 79°F and low of 61°F; January is the coolest, at 39°F and 23°F. October is the wettest at 4.4 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 42.3 inches over 73 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (21.6 of 42.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 67 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (22); a normal September there has highs of 73°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 2 days a year, almost all from July. Lows fall below freezing on about 115 nights a year. That 42.3 inches is more than at 3 of the 65 Massachusetts stations used on this site (5%). Edgartown, 7 miles east, has its own station (Edgartown, MA): 47.6 inches a year, 5.3 more than here, and a July average high of 80°F against 79°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Woods Hole, MA, 10 miles north, averaged 74°F in August and 36°F in February over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Woods Hole tide gauge, 10 miles from West Tisbury, has risen 1.24 ± 0.03 inches per decade from 1932 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 12.4 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 73 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39 | 23 | 3.3 | 6 | 39 |
| Feb | 40 | 23 | 2.6 | 6 | 36 |
| Mar | 46 | 29 | 4.0 | 6 | 40 |
| Apr | 55 | 36 | 3.7 | 7 | 47 |
| May | 65 | 46 | 3.3 | 6 | 56 |
| Jun | 73 | 55 | 3.2 | 6 | 66 |
| Jul | 79 | 61 | 2.8 | 4 | 73 |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.4 | 5 | 74 |
| Sep | 73 | 52 | 3.8 | 5 | 71 |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 4.4 | 7 | 63 |
| Nov | 54 | 36 | 4.0 | 7 | 54 |
| Dec | 45 | 29 | 3.8 | 7 | 45 |
| Year | 59 | 41 | 42.3 | 73 | 55 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Vineyard Haven Airport, MA (68 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Woods Hole, 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 West Tisbury
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 25 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of West Tisbury: 12 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 floods, 2 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $182,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on August 8, 1999.
October 15, 2005: flood 4 miles from the centre of West Tisbury — $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
Dukes County, which includes West Tisbury, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 4 snowstorms, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 27, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Dukes County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes and coastal flooding; Very Low for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind, lightning and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $7.3 million a year, the 14th highest of 14 Massachusetts counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $4.2 million (57%), 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 West Tisbury
- Chilmark, MA5 mi
- Vineyard Haven, MA6 mi
- Edgartown, MA7 mi
- Falmouth, MA13 mi
- East Falmouth, MA15 mi
- North Falmouth, MA18 mi
- Mashpee, MA19 mi
- Mattapoisett, MA20 mi
- Cotuit, MA20 mi
- South Dartmouth, MA21 mi
- Fairhaven, MA21 mi
- Pocasset, MA22 mi
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