New Hampshire experiences relatively infrequent severe weather compared to the central United States, with 112 confirmed tornadoes, 917 hailstorm events and 2,257 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 1.5 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. New Hampshire’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 New Hampshire 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.
New Hampshire Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 112 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 28 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 1 direct tornado deaths and 30 direct injuries
- 917 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 2,257 damaging-wind events on record
- 1.5 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- July is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 44.6% of New Hampshire tornadoes
- 41 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When New Hampshire Severe Weather Happens
New Hampshire tornado activity peaks in spring, with March through June accounting for about 31% of all events. The single busiest month is July, which alone produces around 44.6% of recorded tornadoes.
- July: 50 tornadoes (44.6%) — peak month
- August: 24 tornadoes (21.4%)
- June: 20 tornadoes (17.9%)
- May: 15 tornadoes (13.4%)
- October: 2 tornadoes (1.8%)
- September: 1 tornado (0.9%)
Top 10 New Hampshire Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in New Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|
| Hillsborough | 19 |
| Cheshire | 18 |
| Grafton | 14 |
| Belknap | 12 |
| Carroll | 10 |
| Rockingham | 10 |
| Coos | 8 |
| Merrimack | 7 |
| Strafford | 7 |
| Sullivan | 7 |
New Hampshire Tornado Strength Distribution
Most New Hampshire tornadoes are weak: roughly 73% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 27.2% of rated tornadoes in the state.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 31 tornadoes — 30.1% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 44 tornadoes — 42.7% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 26 tornadoes — 25.2% of rated events
- F3/EF3: 2 tornadoes — 1.9% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in New Hampshire
Largest hailstone: 3.00 inches in diameter, observed in Grafton County near Orange on June 22, 2008. The three largest hailstones on record in New Hampshire measured 3.00″, 2.75″, 2.50″.
Highest measured wind gust: 67 knots (77 mph) recorded in Carroll County near Winnipesaukee on October 8, 2014. Most damaging-wind events in New Hampshire are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How New Hampshire Compares Nationally
New Hampshire ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, with severe-weather activity well below the central-US average.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- New Hampshire tornado total: 112 — ranked 44th nationally.
- New Hampshire hail total: 917 hail events on record since 1950.
- New Hampshire wind total: 2,257 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does New Hampshire have on average per year?
New Hampshire averages 1.5 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 New Hampshire are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Hillsborough County with 19 events. The three most active counties overall are Hillsborough, Cheshire, Grafton.
How does New Hampshire compare to its neighbors?
New Hampshire shares a severe-weather climate with Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in New Hampshire’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 New Hampshire to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce New Hampshire tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare New Hampshire’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Maine severe storm history — ranked 40th nationally, Northeast nor’easter corridor
- Vermont severe storm history — ranked 47th nationally, Northeast nor’easter corridor
- Massachusetts severe storm history — ranked 37th nationally, Northeast nor’easter corridor
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
