Hunterdon County, New Jersey
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 34019 · population 128,867 · 428 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,199 records for Hunterdon County, New Jersey from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 905 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (330 records). 614 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the September 1, 2021 flash flood: 6 deaths and $6.5 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1965, 23 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Hurricane Ida” on September 5, 2021.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 1,199on 905 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1753 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $232Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 2021
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Hunterdon County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 330 since 1984. 57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1984 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among New Jersey's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 330 | 201 | 1984-2026 | 2 | 16 | $383K | 11 of 20 |
| Winter storms | 272 | 268 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 19 | $2.7M | 11 of 20 |
| Floods | 122 | 91 | 1996-2023 | 7 | 7 | $164M | 16 of 20 |
| High wind and dust storms | 116 | 115 | 1996-2021 | 4 | 1 | $53M | 17 of 20 |
| Heat | 80 | 80 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 20 |
| Heavy rain | 70 | 55 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 20 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 48 | 47 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 20 |
| Hail | 44 | 37 | 1962-2023 | 0 | 0 | $142K | 14 of 20 |
| Drought | 43 | 43 | 1997-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 20 |
| Extreme cold | 32 | 31 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 20 |
| Lightning | 23 | 20 | 1997-2023 | 1 | 8 | $411K | 15 of 20 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 7 | 1973-2023 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 14 of 20 |
| Wildfires | 6 | 6 | 2002-2015 | 0 | 2 | $79K | 13 of 20 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 3 | 3 | 2008-2020 | 0 | 0 | $656K | 17 of 20 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2017-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 20 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Hunterdon County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Hunterdon County from 1973 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 10 tornadoes whose track touched Hunterdon County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New Jersey.
Every tornado record filed for Hunterdon County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-07 | Holland, Hunterdon County | EF0 0.52 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-07-25 | Readington Airport, Hunterdon County | EF1 3.49 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-09-23 | Sergeantsville, Hunterdon County | F1 2.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $802K |
| 1994-08-17 | Readington Twp-, Hunterdon County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-05-25 | Lambertville, Hunterdon County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $10.0M |
| 1974-04-14 | Hunterdon County | F2 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1973-02-02 | Hunterdon County | F2 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1973-02-02 | Hunterdon County | F1 0.3 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1973-02-02 | Hunterdon County | F1 0.2 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Hunterdon County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 1, 2021 flash flood (6 deaths and $6.5 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Widespread flash flooding occurred in Hunterdon County with numerous road closures. There were over 300 water rescues in the county. A total of six flood related fatalities were reported, one in Milford, one in East Amwell Township, and four in Raritan Township. Many buildings and homes were damaged by the flood waters. Most waterways in the county overflowed their banks, including the South Branch of the Raritan River, the Neshanic River and Spruce Run.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 986283)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindThree Bridges, Hunterdon County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindCopper Hill, Hunterdon County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindOldwick, Hunterdon County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-09 | Dense FogHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindCroton, Hunterdon County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Dense FogHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-07 | Dense FogHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-03 | Winter WeatherHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter StormHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | Dense FogHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-10 | Winter WeatherHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodRiegel Ridge, Hunterdon County Widespread flash flooding occurred in Hunterdon County with numerous road closures. There were over 300 water rescues in the county. A total of six flood related fatalities were reported, one in Milford, one in East Amwell Township, and four in Raritan Township. Many buildings and homes were damaged by the flood ... | 6 | 0 | $6.5M | |
| 2012-10-29 | High WindHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon Post Tropical Storm Sandy was the costliest natural disaster by far in the state of New Jersey. Record breaking high tides and wave action combined with sustained winds as high as 60 to 70 mph with wind gusts as high as around 90 mph to batter the state. Statewide, Sandy caused an estimated 29.4 billion dollars in ... | 64 kt wind | 3 | 0 | $51M |
| 2013-12-08 | Winter WeatherHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon A complex low pressure system tracked across the Great Lakes during the 8th and the 9th, allowing an associated frontal boundary to move over the northern Mid Atlantic Region on the 8th, with a secondary area of low pressure forming off the Mid Atlantic coast. Significant forcing and lift within the atmosphere ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 1989-03-18 | Thunderstorm WindHunterdon County | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-01-18 | Winter WeatherHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon Freezing rain at the onset of a protracted precipitation event helped cause hundreds of accidents across central and northern New Jersey on the morning into the mid afternoon of the 18th. New Jersey State Police alone responded to 428 accidents and 186 calls for assistance. A couple of accidents resulted in ... | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2002-09-11 | High WindHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon The pressure difference between a strong high pressure system in the central part of the country and Tropical Storm Gustav located well east of the Delmarva Peninsula produced strong gusty northwest winds throughout the day on the 11th. Winds frequently gusted between 35 and 45 mph throughout the day and caused ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2006-06-28 | FloodCountywide, Hunterdon County Several days of heavy rain throughout the Delaware River Basin culminated with major flooding along the Delaware River from the 28th through the 30th. It was the fourth highest crest on record for the Delaware River along Hunterdon County. The crest was slightly lower than the April 2005 flood. President George W. ... | 1 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2006-06-23 | LightningAllerton, Hunterdon County A 59-year old male camper was apparently struck by lightning and died while resting in a hammock during the evening of June 23rd. The man was in a hammock, in Round Valley Reservoir, which was anchored to several trees. It is believed that the lightning bolt hit the tree, struck the ground, then traveled into the man. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-10-29 | High WindHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 64 kt wind | 3 | 0 | $51M |
| 2005-04-02 | FloodHunterdon County · forecast zone Hunterdon | 0 | 0 | $45M | |
| 1999-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Hunterdon County | 0 | 3 | $15M | |
| 2006-06-28 | FloodCountywide, Hunterdon County | 1 | 0 | $11M | |
| 1994-05-25 | TornadoLambertville, Hunterdon County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $10.0M |
| 2009-08-02 | Flash FloodCalifon, Hunterdon County | 0 | 0 | $6.9M | |
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodRiegel Ridge, Hunterdon County | 6 | 0 | $6.5M | |
| 2007-04-15 | FloodAnthony, Hunterdon County | 0 | 0 | $4.3M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 2, 1973 (tornado, Hunterdon County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Hunterdon County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 46 | 64 | 81 | 124 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 26 | 97 | 107 | 42 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 13 | 32 | 54 | 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 16 | 64 | 35 | 1 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 26 | 29 | 16 | 9 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 24 | 27 | 18 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1984 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 145 · Feb 139 · Mar 93 · Apr 54 · May 70 · Jun 116 · Jul 223 · Aug 100 · Sep 52 · Oct 46 · Nov 49 · Dec 112 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Hunterdon County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Hunterdon County: 15 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (9) and severe storm (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-05 | DR-4614 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021-09-02 | EM-3573 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4488 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3451 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-03-14 | DR-4264 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2012-10-30 | DR-4086 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3354 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-11-30 | DR-4048 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2011-10-14 | DR-4039 | Severe Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-08-31 | DR-4021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-27 | EM-3332 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010-04-02 | DR-1897 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-07-07 | DR-1653 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-19 | EM-3257 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-04-19 | DR-1588 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-10-01 | DR-1563 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-03-20 | EM-3181 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2001-09-19 | EM-3169 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-11-01 | EM-3156 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 1999-09-18 | DR-1295 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-17 | EM-3148 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1088 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3106 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1980-10-19 | EM-3083 | Drought | Water Shortage |
| 1971-09-04 | DR-310 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1965-08-18 | DR-205 | Drought | Water Shortage |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Hunterdon County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 122 flood or flash flood records for Hunterdon County from 1996 to 2023, on 91 days, with 7 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Hunterdon County ranks 233rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ida | 2021-09-01 | 1 | 6 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 3 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $39.6 million on 1,572 claims filed in Hunterdon County; the most in one year was 302 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 35 · 1982: 3 · 1983: 6 · 1984: 25 · 1986: 3 · 1987: 1 · 1988: 2 · 1989: 20 · 1990: 1 · 1992: 4 · 1993: 2 · 1994: 6 · 1996: 76 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 71 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 2 · 2003: 8 · 2004: 139 · 2005: 245 · 2006: 223 · 2007: 37 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 29 · 2010: 8 · 2011: 302 · 2012: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 270 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Hunterdon County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hunterdon County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $68.5 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $6.0M | 6.9 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.1M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $50M | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $395K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.1M | 2.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $732K | 34 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.0M | once in about 642 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $1.6M | once in about 14 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Hunterdon County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in New JerseyEvery New Jersey tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in New JerseyThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The New Jersey recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Hunterdon CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Hunterdon County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis