NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Wildwood, 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
65 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Wildwood, New Jersey since 1851, 14 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 15 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 14
- Tropical storms
- 51
- Tornadoes
- 15
- 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 Wildwood
The strongest storm to pass near Wildwood was an unnamed storm in 1944, a Category 2 hurricane with 108 mph winds when its centre passed 56 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1903, whose centre came within 7 miles. The record near Wildwood begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 67 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 7 systems. Of the 65 systems, 14 have come since 2000. Wildwood is tied for the most hurricanes within 75 miles among the 455 New Jersey cities on this site. The highest rating among the 15 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 2 times; the most recent, on August 27, 1971, came within 4 miles. Of the 15, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 5 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 5. The most recent tornado was on July 9, 2021. Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 99% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Wildwood. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 12 times since 1977, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 455 New Jersey cities, 99% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Wildwood.
Compare Wildwood's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Wildwood
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 2 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | FayJul 10 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | SandyOct 29 | 33 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | Twenty-TwoOct 14 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 29 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | GastonAug 31 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 15 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1992 | DanielleSep 26 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1986 | CharleyAug 18 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 32 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | HenriSep 24 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 56 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 46 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | BarbaraAug 14 | 74 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 21 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 14 | 56 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 3 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormSep 19 | 73 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 8 | 59 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 12 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 12 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 7 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 14 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 24 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 30 | 64 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 23 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 49 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 12 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 23 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 12 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 10 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 18 | 42 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 2 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 20 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Wildwood: 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 Wildwood
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s2
- 2000s1
- 1990s2
- 1980s3
- 1970s4
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 1971 | F2 | 4 mi | 28.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 1956 | F2 | 18 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 9, 2021 | EF1 | 17 mi | 0.94 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF1 | 18 mi | 4.24 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2019 | EF1 | 23 mi | 6.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 27, 2011 | EF1 | 24 mi | 0.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 16, 1995 | F1 | 5 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 6, 1979 | F1 | 11 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jul 3, 2003 | F0 | 10 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 13, 1998 | F0 | 24 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 1989 | F0 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 23, 1986 | F0 | 16 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 15, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Wildwood
The Storm Prediction Center has 12 hail reports within 10 miles of Wildwood since 1977, made on 10 separate days. Of these, 4 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently May 16, 2025. The most recent report is from May 16, 2025. June has the most reports, 5.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Wildwood
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Cape May 2 NW, NJ, 7 miles west of Wildwood at 20 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 86°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 43°F and 29°F. October is the wettest at 4.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 43.9 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (22.7 of 43.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 65 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (27); a normal September there has highs of 79°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 15 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 72 nights a year. Snowfall averages 14.8 inches a year, most of it in February. That 43.9 inches is more than at 6 of the 51 New Jersey stations used on this site (12%). Sea Isle City, 13 miles northeast, has its own station (Estell Manor, NJ): 50.4 inches a year, 6.5 more than here, and a July average high of 87°F against 86°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Cape May, NJ, 8 miles west, averaged 75°F in August and 40°F in January over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Cape May tide gauge, 8 miles from Wildwood, has risen 2.01 ± 0.09 inches per decade from 1965 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 20.1 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 120 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43 | 29 | 3.2 | 6 | 4.5 | 40 |
| Feb | 45 | 29 | 3.0 | 6 | 5.7 | 40 |
| Mar | 52 | 35 | 4.1 | 7 | 2.5 | 47 |
| Apr | 62 | 44 | 3.3 | 7 | 0.1 | 53 |
| May | 71 | 54 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.0 | 60 |
| Jun | 80 | 63 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.0 | 69 |
| Jul | 86 | 68 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.0 | 73 |
| Aug | 84 | 67 | 4.0 | 5 | 0.0 | 75 |
| Sep | 79 | 62 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.0 | 74 |
| Oct | 68 | 51 | 4.2 | 6 | 0.0 | 66 |
| Nov | 57 | 41 | 3.3 | 6 | 0.0 | 54 |
| Dec | 48 | 33 | 4.0 | 7 | 2.0 | 44 |
| Year | 65 | 48 | 43.9 | 76 | 14.8 | 58 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Cape May 2 NW, NJ (20 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Cape May, NJ, 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 Wildwood
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 125 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Wildwood: 55 thunderstorm wind reports, 36 heavy rain events, 14 floods, 11 flash floods and 9 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 8, and the NWS estimated $195,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on June 21, 2016. August has had the most flash floods, 6 of 11. Of the 455 New Jersey cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 22 have had fewer than Wildwood.
August 1, 2012: lightning strike in Wildwood — 4 injured.
NWS: “A family of 4 people suffered minor injuries from a lightning strike on the beach in Wildwood off of East Cedar Avenue. They were under a beach umbrella when lightning struck nearby and traveled up the umbrella.”
July 27, 2008: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Wildwood — 2 injured.
July 21, 2015: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Wildwood — 2 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 Wildwood's ZIP code 08260 have filed 8,825 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $102.2 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1992: 3,385 claims (38% of all) and $24.3 million, then Hurricane Sandy in 2012 with 1,568 and December Storm - Nor'easter in 1992 with 632. 81% 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, 392 have fewer than Wildwood.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1992 | 3,385 | $24.3 million |
| Hurricane Sandy2012 | 1,568 | $40.0 million |
| December Storm - Nor'easter1992 | 632 | $5.7 million |
| Winter Storm Jonas2016 | 625 | $10.4 million |
| Hurricane Gloria1985 | 502 | $3.2 million |
| The "Halloween" Storm1991 | 292 | $2.7 million |
Cape May County, which includes Wildwood, has been named in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 6 snowstorms, 5 severe storms, 4 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on September 5, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Cape May County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for coastal flooding and strong wind; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Low for tornadoes; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $99.7 million a year, the 15th highest of 21 New Jersey counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $38.9 million (39%), 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).
Wildwood in the notable storm records: Hurricane Sandy (2012)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Wildwood
- Rio Grande, NJ4 mi
- Cape May, NJ6 mi
- Cape May Court House, NJ7 mi
- Villas, NJ7 mi
- Sea Isle City, NJ13 mi
- Ocean View, NJ17 mi
- Woodbine, NJ20 mi
- Leesburg, NJ20 mi
- Marmora, NJ21 mi
- Ocean City, NJ23 mi
- Port Norris, NJ23 mi
- Rehoboth Beach, DE24 mi
All New Jersey cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Wildwood with another place →