Storms near Essex County
The record holds 26 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Essex County, Massachusetts between 1858 and 2021. The busiest month is September, with 13 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 3 strength.
- 26storms within 50 km
- 2major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 7at 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 Essex County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 0 | 0% |
| Tropical storm | 19 | 73% |
| Category 1 | 1 | 4% |
| Category 2 | 4 | 15% |
| Category 3 | 2 | 8% |
| 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).
Essex County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2021, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1858, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 1 |
| 1860s | 4 |
| 1870s | 1 |
| 1880s | 2 |
| 1890s | 3 |
| 1900s | 1 |
| 1910s | 1 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1940s | 1 |
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 1 |
| 2020s | 1 |
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 | 0 |
| Jul | 4 |
| Aug | 4 |
| Sep | 13 |
| Oct | 3 |
| Nov | 1 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Essex County
- Unnamed storm of September 1869 (North Atlantic)2 September 1869 to 9 September 1869, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 950 hPa
- Carol (1954)25 August 1954 to 1 September 1954, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 955 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1869 (North Atlantic)26 September 1869 to 5 October 1869, peak Category 2 (90 kt)
- Unnamed storm of September 1944 (North Atlantic)9 September 1944 to 16 September 1944, Category 2 (90 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 hPa
- Donna (1960)29 August 1960 to 14 September 1960, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
Most recent storms near Essex County
- Elsa (2021)30 June 2021 to 10 July 2021, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 991 hPa
- Hermine (2004)27 August 2004 to 31 August 2004, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 1,002 hPa
- Floyd (1999)7 September 1999 to 19 September 1999, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 921 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 Essex County
- Esther (1961)10 September 1961 to 27 September 1961, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 919 hPa
- Donna (1960)29 August 1960 to 14 September 1960, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 930 hPa
- Bob (1991)16 August 1991 to 29 August 1991, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 950 hPa
- Carol (1954)25 August 1954 to 1 September 1954, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 955 hPa