NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Wilmington, VT
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
27 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Wilmington, Vermont since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 32 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 24
- Tornadoes
- 32
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Wilmington
The strongest storm to pass near Wilmington was Carol in 1954, a Category 2 hurricane with 98 mph winds when its centre passed 68 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1938, whose centre came within 9 miles. The record near Wilmington begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 44 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 4 systems. Of the 27 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Wilmington has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 93% of the 75 Vermont cities on this site. The highest rating among the 32 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on May 31, 1998, came within 16 miles. Of the 32, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 6 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 14. The most recent tornado was on July 18, 2022. Wilmington has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 94% of the 75 Vermont cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 10 times since 1983, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 75 Vermont cities, 99% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Wilmington.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Wilmington
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | overhead | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 14 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 37 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 68 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 2 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 9 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormOct 1 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Wilmington: 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 Wilmington
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s1
- 2000s4
- 1990s6(1 EF3+)
- 1980s4
- 1970s4
- 1960s6(1 EF3+)
- 1950s6
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | 16 mi | 30.5 mi | 0 / 68 |
| Aug 20, 1968 | F3 | 15 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 5, 2002 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1969 | F2 | 25 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 1, 1966 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 22, 1955 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 2022 | EF1 | 21 mi | 0.36 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 2019 | EF1 | 22 mi | 0.75 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 10 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 17 mi | 25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 2002 | F1 | 20 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1997 | F1 | 17 mi | 8.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 32, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Wilmington
The Storm Prediction Center has 10 hail reports within 10 miles of Wilmington since 1983, made on 5 separate days. Of these, 6 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently June 1, 2011. The most recent report is from July 17, 2017. June has the most reports, 5.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Wilmington
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Sunderland 2, VT, 19 miles northwest of Wilmington at 900 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 81°F and low of 55°F; January is the coolest, at 32°F and 11°F. June is the wettest at 4.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 46.9 inches over 95 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (25.2 of 46.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 27 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal September there has highs of 73°F and 3.7 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 3 days a year, almost all from July. Lows fall below freezing on about 164 nights a year. Snowfall averages 75.2 inches a year, most of it in January. That 46.9 inches is more than at 27 of the 33 Vermont stations used on this site (82%). Brattleboro, 12 miles east, has its own station (Keene, NH): 46.3 inches a year, 0.6 less than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 81°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32 | 11 | 3.5 | 8 | 18.5 |
| Feb | 35 | 12 | 2.8 | 6 | 16.4 |
| Mar | 43 | 20 | 3.4 | 8 | 14.0 |
| Apr | 57 | 31 | 3.5 | 8 | 4.1 |
| May | 69 | 42 | 4.1 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 77 | 51 | 4.8 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 81 | 55 | 4.6 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 79 | 54 | 4.3 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 73 | 46 | 3.7 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 60 | 36 | 4.5 | 9 | 0.7 |
| Nov | 48 | 28 | 3.3 | 7 | 4.1 |
| Dec | 37 | 19 | 4.4 | 8 | 17.4 |
| Year | 58 | 34 | 46.9 | 95 | 75.2 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Sunderland 2, VT (900 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 Wilmington
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 31 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Wilmington: 15 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 floods and 6 flash floods. They killed 1 person and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $395,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 58 mph, on December 1, 2006. Of the 74 Vermont cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 10 have had fewer than Wilmington.
August 28, 2011: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Wilmington — 1 killed.
NWS: “Route 100 in Windham County was closed due to flooding and wash outs. Portions of Route 100 remained closed after the flood waters receded due to significant damage.”
July 29, 2021: flash flood 10 miles from the centre of Wilmington — $150,000 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 Wilmington's ZIP code 05363 have filed 50 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1980, and were paid $3.2 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Irene in 2011: 28 claims (56% of all) and $3.1 million. 58% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 43 Vermont cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 28 have fewer than Wilmington.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene2011 | 28 | $3.1 million |
Windham County, which includes Wilmington, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 floods, 8 severe storms, 3 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storm and Flooding, on March 2, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Windham County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, inland flooding and strong wind; Very Low for hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $20.3 million a year, the 4th highest of 14 Vermont counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $14.7 million (72%), 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 Wilmington
- Brattleboro, VT12 mi
- Bennington, VT16 mi
- North Adams, MA18 mi
- Pownal, VT19 mi
- Vernon, VT19 mi
- Hinsdale, NH20 mi
- North Bennington, VT20 mi
- Putney, VT20 mi
- Shelburne Falls, MA21 mi
- Bernardston, MA21 mi
- Arlington, VT22 mi
- Manchester Center, VT22 mi
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