Skip to content

NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Wilton, 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

47 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Wilton, Connecticut since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 33 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
9

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
38

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
33

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
0

1 deaths in all

What the records show for Wilton

The strongest storm to pass near Wilton was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 3 hurricane with 116 mph winds when its centre passed 28 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 13 miles. The record near Wilton begins with an unnamed storm in 1858; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 51 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 5 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 47 systems, 6 have come since 2000. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site, 76% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Wilton. The highest rating among the 33 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 6 times; the most recent, on May 15, 2018, came within 23 miles. The deadliest, an F0 on June 12, 1991, killed 1 person. Of the 33, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 17 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on August 12, 2023. Of the 186 Connecticut cities, 73% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Wilton. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 27 times since 1961, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 186 Connecticut cities, 70% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Wilton.

Compare Wilton's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Wilton

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Wilton, Connecticut, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021IdaSep 251 miTropical storm (45 mph)Category 4
2021ElsaJul 956 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
2020IsaiasAug 469 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 1
2013AndreaJun 856 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2011IreneAug 2814 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 3
2008HannaSep 725 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
1999FloydSep 1721 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1996BerthaJul 1311 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1985GloriaSep 2718 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 4
1985HenriSep 2456 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1976BelleAug 1016 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 3
1972AgnesJun 2218 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 1
1971DoriaAug 2812 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1968Unnamed 1968 stormSep 1117 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 1529 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1960DonnaSep 1242 miCategory 2 (97 mph)Category 4
1960BrendaJul 3012 miTropical storm (55 mph)Tropical storm
1955DianeAug 1938 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1954CarolAug 3168 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 3
1952AbleSep 133 miTropical storm (54 mph)Category 2
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1564 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 5
1938Unnamed 1938 stormSep 2128 miCategory 3 (116 mph)Category 5
1934Unnamed 1934 stormSep 923 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 1941 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 3014 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1747 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 411 miTropical storm (54 mph)Category 1
1908Unnamed 1908 stormMay 3067 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 1
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1561 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1650 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1900Unnamed 1900 stormOct 1464 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1899Unnamed 1899 stormNov 159 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 2
1897Unnamed 1897 stormSep 2447 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 1042 miCategory 1 (83 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2948 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2413 miCategory 1 (82 mph)Category 3
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1235 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 2216 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 2447 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 555 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 307 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 2621 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1866Unnamed 1866 stormOct 3030 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 1926 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 359 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 288 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 1
1858Unnamed 1858 stormSep 1668 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 2

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

By decade

  • 2020s2
  • 2010s7
  • 2000s8
  • 1990s8
  • 1980s1
  • 1970s4
  • 1960s1
  • 1950s2
Strongest tornadoes near Wilton, Connecticut
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
May 15, 2018EF223 mi1.18 mi0 / 0
Jul 12, 2006F214 mi10.1 mi0 / 6
Jul 10, 1989F220 mi0.5 mi0 / 5
Jul 29, 1971F220 mi4.5 mi0 / 0
Jul 19, 1971F27 mi1.5 mi0 / 0
Jul 14, 1950F26 mi5 mi0 / 3
Oct 2, 2018EF16 mi3.76 mi0 / 0
Oct 2, 2018EF116 mi4.28 mi0 / 0
May 15, 2018EF122 mi3.67 mi0 / 0
May 15, 2018EF119 mi2.92 mi0 / 0
Jun 24, 2010EF113 mi0.16 mi0 / 3
Jul 31, 2009EF118 mi0.86 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 33, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Wilton

The Storm Prediction Center has 27 hail reports within 10 miles of Wilton since 1961, made on 20 separate days. Of these, 8 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 25, 1994. The most recent report is from August 27, 2020. July has the most reports, 7.

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

Weather by month in Wilton

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Stamford 5 N, CT, 8 miles southwest of Wilton at 190 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 85°F and low of 64°F; January is the coolest, at 38°F and 22°F. September is the wettest at 5.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 51.5 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (26.5 of 51.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 47 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (21); a normal September there has highs of 76°F and 5.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 18 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 119 nights a year. Snowfall averages 34.0 inches a year, most of it in February. That 51.5 inches is more than at 19 of the 27 Connecticut stations used on this site (70%). South Salem, NY, 7 miles northwest, has its own station (Danbury Municipal Airport, CT): 48.1 inches a year, 3.4 less than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 85°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Bridgeport, CT, 13 miles east, averaged 76°F in August and 39°F in February over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Bridgeport tide gauge, 13 miles from Wilton, has risen 1.35 ± 0.08 inches per decade from 1964 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 13.5 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 81 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Stamford 5 N, CT
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Snow inWater °F
Jan38224.379.142
Feb41233.1611.939
Mar49304.785.942
Apr62404.480.548
May72504.180.056
Jun80594.970.065
Jul85643.860.073
Aug83633.860.076
Sep76565.260.074
Oct64454.660.066
Nov53354.260.856
Dec43274.485.846
Year624351.58134.057

Averages for 1991–2020 at Stamford 5 N, CT (190 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Bridgeport, 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 Wilton

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 216 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Wilton: 151 thunderstorm wind reports, 39 flash floods, 17 floods, 7 lightning strikes and 2 heavy rain events. They killed 6 people and injured 11, and the NWS estimated $674,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on June 24, 2010. Of the 186 Connecticut cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 116 have had fewer than Wilton.

  • October 1, 2010: heavy rain event 2 miles from the centre of Wilton — 2 killed.

    NWS: “In Wilton, a man and a woman drowned shortly after launching their 2-person kayak into the swollen Norwalk River in the early evening hours after the heavy rain had ceased. Neither of them were wearing a life preserver, and the river was moving quickly at the time of the accident.”

  • June 23, 2011: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Wilton — 1 killed, 2 injured, $7,500 damage.

  • August 18, 2024: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Wilton — 1 killed, $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

Flood insurance policyholders in Wilton's ZIP code 06897 have filed 148 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $2.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 2007, with 33. 24% 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, 92 have fewer than Wilton.

Fairfield County, which includes Wilton, has been named in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 8 severe storms, 8 snowstorms, 3 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, on September 20, 2024.

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 Wilton