Connecticut experiences relatively infrequent severe weather compared to the central United States, with 130 confirmed tornadoes, 686 hailstorm events and 2,334 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950. The state ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, and averages 1.7 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Connecticut’s severe-weather record is dominated by winter storms, nor’easters and infrequent but occasionally damaging summer tornadoes. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Connecticut from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
—Significant events
—Tornadoes
—Hailstorms ≥ 2″
—Wind ≥ 65 kt
—Direct deaths
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Connecticut Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
130 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
29 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
4 direct tornado deaths and 703 direct injuries
686 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
2,334 damaging-wind events on record
1.7 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
July is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 27.7% of Connecticut tornadoes
59 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Connecticut Severe Weather Happens
Connecticut tornado activity peaks in spring, with March through June accounting for about 33% of all events. The single busiest month is July, which alone produces around 27.7% of recorded tornadoes.
July: 36 tornadoes (27.7%) — peak month
August: 32 tornadoes (24.6%)
June: 24 tornadoes (18.5%)
May: 17 tornadoes (13.1%)
September: 8 tornadoes (6.2%)
October: 7 tornadoes (5.4%)
Top 8 Connecticut Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Connecticut is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
County
Tornadoes since 1950
Litchfield
38
New Haven
21
Hartford
18
Fairfield
17
Tolland
15
Windham
9
Middlesex
8
New London
4
Connecticut Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Connecticut tornadoes are weak: roughly 77% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 22.8% of rated tornadoes in the state.
F0/EF0 (weak): 37 tornadoes — 29.1% of rated events
F1/EF1: 61 tornadoes — 48% of rated events
F2/EF2 (strong): 22 tornadoes — 17.3% of rated events
F3/EF3: 5 tornadoes — 3.9% of rated events
F4/EF4 (violent): 2 tornadoes — 1.6% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Connecticut
Largest hailstone: 2.75 inches in diameter, observed in New London County on May 29, 1969. The three largest hailstones on record in Connecticut measured 2.75″, 2.75″, 2.75″.
Highest measured wind gust: 68 knots (78 mph) recorded in Fairfield County near (Bdr)Bridgeport Mem on June 24, 2010. Most damaging-wind events in Connecticut are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Connecticut Compares Nationally
Connecticut ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, with severe-weather activity well below the central-US average.
Connecticut hail total: 686 hail events on record since 1950.
Connecticut wind total: 2,334 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Connecticut have on average per year?
Connecticut averages 1.7 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
Where in Connecticut are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Litchfield County with 38 events. The three most active counties overall are Litchfield, New Haven, Hartford.
How does Connecticut compare to its neighbors?
Connecticut shares a severe-weather climate with New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Connecticut’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare Connecticut to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Connecticut tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Connecticut’s storm history to its land neighbors:
I'm Daniel O'Donohue, the voice and creator behind The MapScaping Podcast ( A podcast for the geospatial community ). With a professional background as a geospatial specialist, I've spent years harnessing the power of spatial to unravel the complexities of our world, one layer at a time.
