Storms near Sussex County
The record holds 35 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Sussex County, Delaware between 1856 and 2021. The busiest month is September, with 14 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 2 strength.
- 35storms within 50 km
- 0major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 5at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Sussex County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 4 | 11% |
| Tropical storm | 26 | 74% |
| Category 1 | 4 | 11% |
| Category 2 | 1 | 3% |
| Category 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 0 | 0% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Sussex County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2021, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1856, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 2 |
| 1860s | 2 |
| 1870s | 2 |
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 2 |
| 1900s | 2 |
| 1930s | 1 |
| 1940s | 1 |
| 1960s | 3 |
| 1970s | 2 |
| 1980s | 1 |
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 4 |
| 2010s | 2 |
| 2020s | 3 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 1 |
| Jun | 2 |
| Jul | 6 |
| Aug | 7 |
| Sep | 14 |
| Oct | 5 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Sussex County
- Gloria (1985)16 September 1985 to 2 October 1985, Category 2 (90 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 920 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1894 (North Atlantic)26 September 1894 to 12 October 1894, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt)
- Unnamed storm of September 1903 (North Atlantic)12 September 1903 to 17 September 1903, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (85 kt), 990 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1859 (North Atlantic)9 September 1859 to 22 September 1859, peak Category 1 (70 kt)
- Irene (2011)21 August 2011 to 30 August 2011, Category 1 (65 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 942 hPa
Most recent storms near Sussex County
- Elsa (2021)30 June 2021 to 10 July 2021, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 991 hPa
- Isaias (2020)28 July 2020 to 5 August 2020, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 986 hPa
- Fay (2020)5 July 2020 to 11 July 2020, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 998 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
Notable storms near Sussex County
- Gloria (1985)16 September 1985 to 2 October 1985, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 920 hPa
- Allison (2001)5 June 2001 to 19 June 2001, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 1,000 hPa