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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Westbrook, 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

55 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Westbrook, Connecticut since 1851, 12 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 25 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
12

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
43

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
25

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
2

no recorded deaths

What the records show for Westbrook

The strongest storm to pass near Westbrook was Carol in 1954, a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds when its centre passed 22 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1894, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Westbrook begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 39 miles away. The 1880s and the 1960s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 55 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Westbrook has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 77% of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site. The strongest of the 25 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on July 10, 1989; its path came within 24 miles. Of the 25, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 9 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on September 25, 2022. Of the 186 Connecticut cities, 86% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Westbrook. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 27 times since 1963, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 186 Connecticut cities, 70% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Westbrook.

Compare Westbrook's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Westbrook

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Westbrook, Connecticut, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021IdaSep 239 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
2021HenriAug 2222 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
2021ElsaJul 924 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
2013AndreaJun 824 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2011IreneAug 2859 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 3
2008HannaSep 75 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2007BarryJun 437 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1999FloydSep 1717 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1996JosephineOct 975 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1996BerthaJul 1320 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1991BobAug 1943 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 3
1985GloriaSep 2729 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 4
1985HenriSep 2434 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1976BelleAug 1029 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 3
1972AgnesJun 2268 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1971DoriaAug 2853 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1968Unnamed 1968 stormSep 1131 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1966AlmaJun 1470 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 1511 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1960DonnaSep 122 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 4
1960BrendaJul 3026 miTropical storm (53 mph)Tropical storm
1959CindyJul 1159 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1955DianeAug 1935 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1954CarolAug 3122 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 3
1952AbleSep 162 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 2
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1528 miCategory 2 (102 mph)Category 5
1938Unnamed 1938 stormSep 2123 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 5
1934Unnamed 1934 stormSep 919 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 2
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 2026 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 3058 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormJul 2157 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 2
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 178 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 532 miTropical storm (48 mph)Category 1
1908Unnamed 1908 stormMay 3022 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1907Unnamed 1907 stormJun 3052 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1533 miCategory 1 (82 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1614 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1897Unnamed 1897 stormSep 2410 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10overheadCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2460 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2573 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormOct 1259 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 125 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 2228 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 2420 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormAug 1955 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 3
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 531 miTropical storm (68 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 3028 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 274 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1869Unnamed 1869 stormSep 834 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 3
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 1969 miTropical storm (47 mph)Tropical storm
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 321 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 2832 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 1
1858Unnamed 1858 stormSep 1621 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 2
1851Unnamed 1851 stormOct 1940 miTropical storm (55 mph)Tropical storm

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Westbrook: 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 Westbrook

By decade

  • 2020s3
  • 2010s4
  • 2000s2
  • 1990s5
  • 1980s4(1 EF3+)
  • 1970s2
  • 1960s1
  • 1950s4(1 EF3+)
Strongest tornadoes near Westbrook, Connecticut
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Jul 10, 1989F424 mi3 mi0 / 40
Aug 21, 1951F320 mi0.1 mi0 / 8
Aug 8, 1999F220 mi4 mi0 / 1
Jul 12, 1950F220 mi10 mi0 / 0
Aug 27, 2020EF120 mi11.1 mi0 / 0
Oct 29, 2018EF124 mi1.96 mi0 / 0
May 15, 2018EF125 mi7.36 mi0 / 0
Jul 31, 2009EF16 mi2.94 mi0 / 0
Sep 15, 2000F115 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Jun 30, 1998F17 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Jun 30, 1998F17 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Aug 19, 1991F123 mi0.2 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 25, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Westbrook

The Storm Prediction Center has 27 hail reports within 10 miles of Westbrook since 1963, made on 11 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on June 20, 1995. The most recent report is from June 29, 2020. July has the most reports, 15.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Westbrook

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Groton New London Airport, CT, 22 miles east of Westbrook at 10 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 80°F and low of 65°F; January is the coolest, at 38°F and 23°F. March and September are the wettest at 3.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.2 inches; the year adds up to 39.2 inches over 65 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (20.5 of 39.2 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 55 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal September there has highs of 74°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 107 nights a year. That 39.2 inches is more than at 0 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (0%). Clinton, 3 miles west, has its own station (New Haven Tweed Airport, CT): 41.8 inches a year, 2.6 more than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 80°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station New London, CT, 20 miles east, averaged 71°F in August and 39°F in February over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the New London tide gauge, 20 miles from Westbrook, has risen 1.16 ± 0.04 inches per decade from 1938 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 11.6 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 66 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Groton New London Airport, CT
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan38232.7541
Feb40252.2539
Mar47313.8543
Apr56393.6649
May65493.3756
Jun74583.3664
Jul80653.2571
Aug79643.3571
Sep74573.8570
Oct63463.7563
Nov53373.2555
Dec44293.1646
Year594339.26556

Averages for 1991–2020 at Groton New London Airport, CT (10 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station New London, CT, 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.

Connecticut weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Westbrook

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 53 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Westbrook: 44 thunderstorm wind reports, 5 lightning strikes, 2 flash floods and 2 floods. They killed 1 person and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $489,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on June 2, 2000.

  • June 8, 2008: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Westbrook — 1 killed, 4 injured.

  • March 30, 2010: flood 5 miles from the centre of Westbrook — $315,000 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

Flood insurance policyholders in Westbrook's ZIP code 06498 have filed 481 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $8.0 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Sandy in 2012: 144 claims (30% of all) and $4.2 million, then Hurricane Irene in 2011 with 125 and Hurricane Gloria in 1985 with 58. 86% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 128 Connecticut cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 111 have fewer than Westbrook.

Flood insurance claims in Westbrook by named event
EventClaimsPaid
Hurricane Sandy2012144$4.2 million
Hurricane Irene2011125$3.1 million
Hurricane Gloria198558$192,000
Not a named storm198239$90,000
December Storm - Nor'easter199221$47,000
March 2010 Nor'easter201016$107,000

Middlesex County, which includes Westbrook, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 7 severe storms, 5 snowstorms, 3 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on October 30, 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.

Cities near Westbrook