Lake Grove

Population 11,168 (2025)

29 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Lake Grove since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1938 (Category 3).

Hazard fingerprint for Lake Grove Tornado: 46th percentile. Tropical: 84th percentile. Wildfire: 10th percentile. Flood: 95th percentile. Hail & wind: 90th percentile. Heat: 80th percentile. Cold: 68th percentile. Winter: 96th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195028
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger49
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19841
  • Major flood years since 1978, Suffolk County5

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Suffolk County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Suffolk County.

Flood insurance claims

33,936

Suffolk County

$1.1 billion paid since 1978

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

29

8 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

28

0 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

1

Largest: Crescent Bow Fire, 2012

Details

Strongest tornado

F2

September 18, 1973, 1.9 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 3

Hurricane (unnamed), 1938, 15.7 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

36

Most recent: Severe Storm and Flooding, 2024

Details

Record high

104°F

July 3, 1966

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 2.7 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

September 18, 1973

F2, 1.9 mile path

167 yards wide.

Most recent

Saturday, November 13, 2021

EF0, 3.5 mile path

5 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 0 1960s: 0 1970s: 6 6 1980s: 1 1 1990s: 7 7 2000s: 2 2 2010s: 6 6 2020s: 6 6 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 0 F: 0 M: 0 A: 0 M: 0 J: 6 6 J: 5 A: 6 S: 4 O: 2 N: 5 D: 0 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Nov 13, 2021EF03.53500
Nov 13, 2021EF15.35000
Nov 13, 2021EF01.33500
Nov 13, 2021EF00.55000
Nov 13, 2021EF013.15000
Aug 4, 2020EF00.02500
Sep 2, 2019EF01.65000
Oct 2, 2018EF00.220000
Oct 2, 2018EF13.810000
Aug 10, 2012EF05.615000
Aug 28, 2011EF04.022000
Jun 24, 2010EF10.210030
Jul 18, 2007EF10.715000
Aug 25, 2006F00.315000
Jun 30, 1998F10.38000
Jun 30, 1998F00.110000
Jun 30, 1998F10.330000
Jun 26, 1997F00.12000
Jul 23, 1995F00.13300
Jul 23, 1995F10.213000
Aug 19, 1991F10.210000
Jul 10, 1989F20.24010
Aug 12, 1978F10.11000
Jun 1, 1976F00.11000
Sep 18, 1973F21.916700
Sep 18, 1973F10.11000
Jul 19, 1971F21.51000
Sep 27, 1970F20.57700
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

29 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 8 at hurricane strength, 2 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 21, 1938

Unnamed storm, Category 3

15.7 miles at closest approach, winds near 121 mph.

Most recent

September 2, 2021

Ida, Post-tropical

24.3 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 1 60s: 2 70s: 2 80s: 2 90s: 3 00s: 1 10s: 0 20s: 0 30s: 2 40s: 1 50s: 2 60s: 4 4 70s: 2 80s: 2 90s: 2 00s: 1 10s: 1 20s: 1 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Ida202124.3Post-tropical46Category 4
Elsa202128.8Tropical storm58Category 1
Isaias202094.1Tropical storm61Category 1
Andrea201331.7Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Irene201137.7Tropical storm62Category 3
Hanna20086.4Tropical storm52Category 1
Barry200753.3Post-tropical41Tropical storm
Allison200179.4Subtropical storm41Tropical storm
Floyd19997.8Tropical storm58Category 4
Josephine199689.8Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Bertha199620.6Tropical storm69Category 3
Bob199163.2Category 2105Category 3
Gloria198520.2Category 186Category 4
Henri198528.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Belle197610.7Tropical storm69Category 3
Agnes197227.5Post-tropical60Category 1
Doria197138.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed196813.4Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Alma196690.5Post-tropical46Category 3
Esther196190.5Category 186Category 5
Unnamed196111.7Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Donna196015.7Category 298Category 4
Brenda196016.2Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Cindy195971.4Tropical storm58Category 1
Diane195512.5Tropical storm46Category 2
Carol195448.0Category 3115Category 3
Able195262.0Tropical storm55Category 2
Unnamed194478.6Post-tropical52Category 4
Unnamed194438.4Category 2104Category 5
Unnamed194474.8Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed193815.7Category 3121Category 5
Unnamed193690.6Category 186Category 3
Unnamed19348.8Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed193414.2Post-tropical46Category 2
Unnamed192438.7Post-tropical67Category 1
Unnamed191683.2Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed191619.9Post-tropical56Tropical storm
Unnamed191540.4Post-tropical54Category 1
Unnamed190843.5Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed190763.7Post-tropical44Tropical storm
Unnamed190432.4Post-tropical81Category 1
Unnamed190225.6Post-tropical43Tropical storm
Unnamed189986.0Post-tropical54Category 2
Unnamed189722.2Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed189415.7Category 186Category 3
Unnamed189484.8Tropical storm44Category 3
Unnamed189376.8Tropical storm63Category 3
Unnamed189336.5Category 183Category 3
Unnamed188980.8Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed188868.0Tropical storm47Category 2
Unnamed18886.6Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed188844.0Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed188219.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188295.4Tropical storm67Category 3
Unnamed188195.0Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed187958.7Category 189Category 3
Unnamed187726.4Post-tropical69Category 3
Unnamed187424.9Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed18727.7Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186964.3Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed186649.7Post-tropical60Tropical storm
Unnamed186354.3Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed186133.0Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed186119.2Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed185847.4Category 192Category 2
Unnamed185667.6Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed185172.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

1 large fire burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

April 9, 2012

Crescent Bow Fire, 1,069 acres

13.4 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

April 9, 2012

Crescent Bow Fire

1,069 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 2012: 1,069 1,069 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Crescent Bow Fire201213.41,069
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 56 days

Heavy smoke on 10 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

14.7 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

17 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 21 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 3 2012: 4 2013: 1 2014: 3 2015: 10 2016: 2 2017: 2 2018: 9 2019: 10 2020: 8 2021: 21 2022: 12 2023: 56 56 2024: 10 2025: 17 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

33,936 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $1.1 billion paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Suffolk County, the county that contains Lake Grove.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 390 1979: 629 1980: 475 1981: 118 1982: 266 1983: 256 1984: 705 1985: 1,329 1986: 68 1987: 113 1988: 23 1989: 219 1990: 110 1991: 2,396 1992: 3,200 1993: 890 1994: 280 1995: 97 1996: 565 1997: 90 1998: 237 1999: 53 2000: 50 2001: 66 2002: 51 2003: 89 2004: 69 2005: 1,780 2006: 93 2007: 280 2008: 83 2009: 116 2010: 1,059 2011: 2,230 2012: 13,307 13,307 2013: 70 2014: 614 2015: 40 2016: 44 2017: 143 2018: 171 2019: 84 2020: 51 2021: 138 2022: 76 2023: 180 2024: 494 2025: 30 2026: 19 1978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2012: 13,307 claims

$866 million paid.

2nd most

1992: 3,200 claims

$45.5 million paid.

3rd most

1991: 2,396 claims

$24.4 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
117574,759$169 million
117022,715$134 million
117012,338$124 million
117062,044$79.7 million
117701,851$92.7 million
119781,773$49.2 million
117951,530$63.2 million
119511,037$23.3 million
117821,009$34.8 million
11772824$26.9 million
11726808$34.9 million
11769806$38.8 million
11968758$12.6 million
11946544$12.3 million
11901510$9.8 million
11768493$11.3 million
11934450$11.7 million
11942406$12.1 million
11967390$3.6 million
11963382$4.2 million
11959375$9.4 million
11751364$13.8 million
11937353$3.2 million
11971345$3.8 million
11977305$7.7 million
270$1.4 million
11743266$4.3 million
11944262$4.6 million
11715258$9.5 million
11960255$5.9 million
11930252$2.9 million
11704247$5.6 million
11954240$2.8 million
11705239$6.9 million
11952207$3.8 million
11940172$4.4 million
11719163$3.1 million
11970154$2.8 million
11787153$1.3 million
11730152$3.9 million
11746149$519,000
11718142$4.3 million
11935138$2.3 million
11976134$4.1 million
11931134$3.1 million
11932133$6.4 million
11947124$2.0 million
11939119$2.2 million
11962102$4.0 million
11779100$373,000
1177798$5.0 million
1173393$1.6 million
1194887$1.4 million
1196479$1.3 million
1179277$893,000
1178872$197,000
1195770$737,000
1172968$132,000
1178067$883,000
1174761$352,000
1171358$909,000
1172155$1.6 million
1170353$646,000
1195550$954,000
1179049$1.2 million
1195649$685,000
1176647$886,000
1173446$1.6 million
1172241$124,000
1000038$753,000
1172538$283,000
1175434$143,000
1197532$572,000
1193331$285,000
1173130$78,000
1176329$142,000
1196529$158,000
1177827$162,000
1179624$249,000
1173924$332,000
1173824$47,000
1177623$123,000
1172023$116,000
1171722$41,000
1195822$270,000
1176721$39,000
1178120$356,000
1172819$1.1 million
1174119$203,000
1175518$38,000
1176418$362,000
1177518$631,000
1172417$145,000
1178417$37,000
1195017$126,000
1194114$128,000
1179814$50,000
1001014$851,000
1172713$74,000
1178612$18,000
1174012$35,000
1175211$20,000
1002110$344,000
1171610$57,000
1192810$59,000
117899$6,934
063909$489,000
119619$70,000
100288$108,000
100078$133,000
100228$315,000
117428$70,000
100168$16,000
119698$78,000
115667$65,000
119537$1.1 million
100195$302,000
100245$10,000
100135$8,248

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood234
  • Coastal Flood111
  • Heavy Rain28
  • Flood27

1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Suffolk County, the county that contains Lake Grove.

Most severe crest

September 21, 1938

Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW), 16.75 ft

13.65 feet above the 3.1 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

November 8, 2012

Great South Bay at Watch Hill (IN MLLW), 4.14 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 21, 1938Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)16.75+13.65Major
Aug 31, 1954Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)14.76+11.66Major
Oct 29, 2012Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)14.31+11.21Major
Dec 11, 1992Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)14.29+11.19Major
Feb 7, 1978Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)13.60+10.50Major
Nov 25, 1950Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)13.05+9.95Major
Nov 12, 1968Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)12.95+9.85Major
Oct 19, 1996Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)12.70+9.60Major
Oct 25, 1980Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)12.68+9.58Major
Feb 19, 1972Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)12.41+9.31Major
Oct 29, 2012Orient Harbor at Orient (IN MLLW)10.12+5.32Major
Oct 29, 2012Great South Bay at Lindenhurst (IN MLLW)7.73+4.63Major
Oct 29, 2012Great South Bay at Watch Hill (IN MLLW)7.73+4.53Major
Oct 29, 2012Peconic River at Riverhead (IN MLLW)10.12+4.42Major
Oct 29, 2012Moriches Bay at Moriches Bay (IN MLLW)7.73+3.43Major
Oct 29, 2012Shinnecock Bay at Ponquogue (IN MLLW)7.73+2.83Major
Oct 29, 2012Shelter Island Sound at Shelter Island (IN MLLW)7.73+2.63Major
Aug 28, 2011Orient Harbor at Orient (IN MLLW)7.35+2.55Major
Aug 28, 2011Peconic River at Riverhead (IN MLLW)7.35+1.65Major
Nov 8, 2012Great South Bay at Lindenhurst (IN MLLW)4.14+1.04Major
Nov 8, 2012Great South Bay at Watch Hill (IN MLLW)4.14+0.94Moderate
Oct 29, 2012Flax Pond at Old Field (IN MLLW)10.12+0.92Minor
Apr 16, 2007Orient Harbor at Orient (IN MLLW)5.67+0.87Minor
Oct 18, 2009Orient Harbor at Orient (IN MLLW)5.53+0.73Minor
Apr 16, 2011Orient Harbor at Orient (IN MLLW)5.47+0.67Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Flax Pond at Old Field (IN MLLW)9.210.12 ftOct 29, 20120
Fort Pond Bay at Montauk (IN MLLW)4.1——0
Great South Bay at Lindenhurst (IN MLLW)3.17.73 ftOct 29, 20122
Great South Bay at Watch Hill (IN MLLW)3.27.73 ftOct 29, 20121
Great South Bay at West Sayville (IN MLLW)3.116.75 ftSep 21, 193810
Moriches Bay at Moriches Bay (IN MLLW)4.37.73 ftOct 29, 20121
Orient Harbor at Orient (IN MLLW)4.810.12 ftOct 29, 20122
Peconic River at Riverhead (IN MLLW)5.710.12 ftOct 29, 20122
Shelter Island Sound at Shelter Island (IN MLLW)5.17.73 ftOct 29, 20121
Shinnecock Bay at Ponquogue (IN MLLW)4.97.73 ftOct 29, 20121
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

High tide flooding

Tide gauges in Suffolk County.

Most in one year, Montauk

11 days

May 2017 to April 2018.

Last ten years

5.4 days a year

At Montauk, 2016–26.

Moderate or major

25 days

Since 1948, 3 of them major.

High tide flooding days per year at Montauk 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 1 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 1 1954: 1 1955: 2 1956: 0 1957: 2 1958: 1 1960: 4 1961: 4 1962: 0 1963: 1 1964: 0 1965: 1 1966: 0 1968: 1 1969: 1 1973: 0 1975: 2 1976: 1 1977: 6 1978: 2 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 2 1984: 1 1985: 0 1986: 3 1987: 0 1988: 1 1989: 0 1990: 2 1991: 2 1992: 4 1994: 1 1995: 2 1996: 3 1997: 6 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 1 2001: 0 2002: 4 2003: 3 2004: 2 2006: 4 2007: 1 2008: 2 2009: 5 2010: 4 2011: 3 2012: 8 2013: 2 2014: 1 2015: 3 2016: 2 2017: 11 11 2018: 7 2019: 5 2020: 6 2021: 4 2022: 4 2023: 6 2024: 7 2025: 2 1948195819731984199520062016
Days at or above NOAA’s minor high tide flooding threshold, each meteorological year (May to April) from 1920. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.
  1. High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.

NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 78 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 21 months.

The drought index is for Suffolk County, the county that contains Lake Grove.

78

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

15

Months in extreme drought

5%

Share of all months, severe or worse

32

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

January 1966

−5.08, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

21 months

June 1965 to February 1967.

Latest month

September 2026

+2.79, moderately wet

Last severe month: June 2026.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 1 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 1 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 2 1950: 2 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 1 1965: 7 1966: 12 12 1967: 2 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 1 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 3 1986: 2 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 3 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 1 1999: 2 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 4 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 1 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 1 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 3 2016: 11 2017: 4 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 2 2023: 1 2024: 0 2025: 5 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides

16 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1908; none reached magnitude 4.

7

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

0

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

October 21, 1981

Magnitude 3.8

14 km S of Madison Center, Connecticut; 34.5 miles away, 3.5 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

August 2, 2025

Magnitude 3.0

0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey; 48.8 miles away.

Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles, by year 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 1 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 2 2 1981: 1 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 1 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 1 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 1 19731978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Per year, 1973 to 2025.
  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Tsunamis

Tsunami records for Suffolk County.

Highest water recorded

May 19, 1964

0.9 ft, Plum Island, NY

From Long Island, NY.

On record

3 tsunamis

Since 1929.

Tsunamis recorded here
Jun 13, 2013Northwest Atlantic Ocean0.610
May 19, 1964Long Island, NY0.940
Nov 18, 1929Grand Banks, Newfoundland, M7.2—10
  1. Places where NOAA's Global Historical Tsunami Database records a tsunami's water arriving, with the greatest height it reached above sea level at the time. Only tsunamis NOAA rates probable or definite are counted. Heights from eyewitness accounts and tide gauges are mixed, and older events are less completely recorded.

NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in Suffolk County.

1

Landslides mapped, probable or better

1

With a recorded date

1

Source inventory

Mapped by NASA (1).

  1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

1,887 events in the National Weather Service record for Suffolk County, 1,830 of them since 1996.

47

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

2

Hail, 2 inches or larger

381

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

353

Winter weather events since 1996

38

Heat events since 1996

18

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

July 10, 1989

2.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

August 4, 2015

96 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Rip currents16183Aug 23, 2025
High surf and sneaker waves2830Apr 16, 2018
Storm surge and tide900Aug 28, 2011
Lightning37125Jun 11, 2026
Dust storms and dust devils311Jul 30, 2014
Dense fog and smoke111Mar 1, 1997

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Aug 13, 2014Flash Flood$35.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Sagtikos Parkway southbound was closed at Exit S2, Crooked Hill Rd., in Brentwood due to flooding. Storm total rainfall amounts reported in Suffolk County ranged from 0.14 inches in Montauk to 13.27 inches at Islip/MacArthur Airport with a 24 hour rainfall record of 13.78 inches at MacArthur Airport which broke the New York State record. Damage amounts are validated costs of damage assessment inspections of municipal property, $11.7 million, and $23.5 million for small business administration loans as a result of the FEMA private property and business damage assessment. This information was provided by the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management.

  2. Mar 13, 2010High Surf, Southeast Suffolk$30.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Hamptons suffered the worst beach erosion in 20 years according to Suffolk County officials as waves up to 20 ft battered the shoreline. The Hamptons are estimated to have suffered at least 30 million dollars in property damage.

  3. Apr 16, 2007Coastal Flood, Southwest Suffolk$26.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The storm caused over $26 million in damage in Suffolk County, including significant beach erosion, flooding, and harm to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

  4. Feb 8, 2013Blizzard, Northwest Suffolk$17.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Nearby ASOS observations indicate that blizzard conditions were met for at least 3 consecutive hours. Snow began at 11:45 am on February 8. Spotters reported an average snowfall of 6 inches by 5:50 pm. Total snowfall ranged from 17.5 inches in Melville to 33.5 inches in Medford.||Precipitation changed from rain to very heavy snow from north to south in the late morning and afternoon. The snow accumulated at rates up to 6 inches per hour at the height of the blizzard, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and even small hail. The very heavy snow also stranded numerous motor vehicles and caused some partial roof, house and shed collapses.||Winds gusted up to 47 mph at Eatons Neck.…

  5. Oct 14, 2005Flash Flood$11.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Periods of heavy rain continued throughout the day. Bands of torrential rain produced widespread and significant flash flooding of low lying and poor drainage areas, including streets, basements, roofs, and ceilings, as well as small creeks throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Trained spotters reported up to 6 feet of water in basements throughout Massapequa. They reported serious flooding along Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, where cars were submerged, and the Grand Central Parkway in Queens. Several trees and power poles were leaning from soggy ground. Preliminary damage cost estimates were $22 million for Long Island.

  6. Aug 19, 2024Astronomical Low Tide, Northeast Suffolk$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Upwards of 10 feet of water inundated a building of the Smithtown Public Library damaging historical documents and compromising walls.

  7. Nov 13, 2009High Surf, Southeast Suffolk$9.4 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Severe beach erosion occurred along with cuts into the dunes across the Atlantic Ocean facing shoreline.||The surf carved into the dunes in front of the pavilion at Smith Point County Park.||In parts of East Hampton, Bridgehampton, and Quogue, as much as 50 ft. of dunes was eaten away by the high waves.||Damages include $ 5.5 million in Quogue and $ 3.9 million at Smith's Point.||In Wainscott, the pavement at the end of Beach Lane collapsed on November 14th.||In Bridgehampton, homes along Surfside Drive that once had wide dunes between them and the ocean now peek out onto the beach over narrow bands of dune grass.||In Quogue, the sand dunes were scoured out from beneath the…

  8. Nov 13, 2009High Surf, Southwest Suffolk$8.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Severe beach erosion and cuts into the dunes occurred along the Atlantic Ocean facing beaches.||In the Town of Babylon...Ocean Parkway was left 150 ft. from tide line compared with 350 ft. previously. Also an estimated 200,000 cubic yards of sand was lost along a 10,000 ft. stretch of beaches. Damage estimates from locations in Southwest Suffolk County include $ 4 million at Gilgo Beach in Babylon and $ 4.2 million for Davis Park in Brookhaven.| |At Robert Moses Field 4, 15 ft. were cut into the dune line. There was also erosion on the east side of Field 5. Field 5 may have to be closed next summer due to the lack of beach.||At Davis Park on Fire Island, 70 percent of the sand…

  9. Dec 16, 2007Coastal Flood, Southeast Suffolk$7.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Widespread beach erosion, some significant, along with coastal flooding occurred across parts of Long Island's south fork. A dock at Maidstone Harbor Marina in East Hampton's Three Mile Harbor was completely submerged an hour after high tide.

  10. Feb 8, 2013Blizzard, Northeast Suffolk$6.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Nearby ASOS observations indicate that blizzard conditions were met for at least 3 consecutive hours. Snow began at 12:45 pm on February 8. Spotters reported an average snowfall of 6 inches by 6:10 pm. Total snowfall ranged from 12.9 inches at Mattituck to 30.9 inches at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton NY. The snowfall at BNL/Upton set an all-time event total snowfall for that location.||Precipitation changed from rain to very heavy snow from north to south in the afternoon. The snow accumulated at rates up to 6 inches per hour at the height of the blizzard, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and even small hail. The very heavy snow also stranded numerous motor…

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Islip-li Macarthur Airport, 4.5 miles from the city centre, with records from 1963.

All-time high
104°FJul 3, 1966
All-time low
−14°FFeb 13, 1967
Warmest night
81°FJul 6, 1999
Coldest day
6°FJan 21, 1985
Wettest day
13.51 inAug 13, 2014
Snowiest day
23.5 inJan 29, 2022
Hottest year
2023mean 55.5°F
Coldest year
1968mean 49.4°F
Wettest year
198965.32 in
Driest year
196525.27 in
Snowiest season
77.1 in1995-96
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Islip-li Macarthur Airport 32°F 39° 25° 3.8 Jan 41° 26° 3.4 Feb 49° 32° 4.8 Mar 59° 41° 4.1 Apr 69° 51° 3.5 May 78° 61° 3.9 Jun 83° 67° 3.6 Jul 82° 66° 4.2 Aug 76° 59° 3.7 Sep 65° 48° 4.1 Oct 54° 37° 3.1 Nov 45° 30° 4.7 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Nights at or below freezing per year 1976: 119 119 1977: 97 1978: 106 1979: 90 1980: 103 1981: 92 1982: 98 1983: 83 1984: 91 1985: 99 1986: 103 1987: 104 1988: 101 1989: 111 1990: 85 1991: 92 1992: 99 1993: 110 1994: 97 1995: 96 1996: 103 1997: 112 1998: 74 1999: 93 2000: 103 2001: 111 2002: 96 2003: 105 2004: 106 2005: 113 2006: 87 2007: 110 2008: 110 2009: 100 2010: 95 2011: 97 2012: 81 2013: 106 2014: 108 2015: 94 2016: 84 2017: 90 2018: 103 2019: 107 2020: 73 2021: 93 2022: 95 2023: 72 2024: 69 2025: 93 19761986199620062016
Nights at or below freezing each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 96.1.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 28.0 in 1977: 68.0 in 1978: 28.1 in 1979: 9.0 in 1980: 20.8 in 1981: 35.4 in 1982: 31.9 in 1983: 27.5 in 1984: 26.9 in 1985: 15.2 in 1986: 22.5 in 1987: 19.5 in 1988: 19.0 in 1989: 19.0 in 1990: 13.8 in 1991: 13.4 in 1992: 28.6 in 1993: 37.1 in 1994: 5.1 in 1995: 77.1 in 77.1 1996: 12.4 in 1997: 2.6 in 1998: 19.4 in 1999: 9.0 in 2000: 38.9 in 2001: 3.7 in 2002: 54.6 in 2003: 41.4 in 2004: 58.8 in 2005: 36.0 in 2006: 9.0 in 2007: 10.7 in 2008: 36.2 in 2009: 53.8 in 2010: 55.3 in 2011: 4.7 in 2012: 46.9 in 2013: 63.7 in 2014: 63.7 in 2015: 41.4 in 2016: 39.3 in 2017: 65.9 in 2018: 12.8 in 2019: 6.8 in 2020: 33.5 in 2021: 37.0 in 2022: 5.0 in 2023: 10.9 in 2024: 11.7 in 2025: 61.8 in 19761986199620062016
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

December 14

Earliest: October 29, 2011

Median last snow

March 17

Latest: April 20, 1983

0 of 63 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Islip-li Macarthur Airport (USW00004781), 83 ft elevation, 4.5 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1963 to October 27, 2026; 100.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

36 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storm and Flooding, October 21, 2024.

Declarations for Suffolk County.

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 21, 2024Severe StormSevere Storm and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4839-NY
Aug 25, 2024Severe StormSevere Storm and FloodingEmergencyEM-3613-NY
Mar 15, 2023SnowstormSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disasterDR-4694-NY
Sep 5, 2021HurricaneRemnants of Hurricane IdaMajor disasterDR-4615-NY
Sep 2, 2021HurricaneRemnants of Hurricane IdaEmergencyEM-3572-NY
Aug 22, 2021HurricaneHurricane HenriEmergencyEM-3565-NY
Oct 2, 2020HurricaneTropical Storm IsaiasMajor disasterDR-4567-NY
Mar 20, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4480-NY
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3434-NY
Jul 12, 2017SnowstormSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disasterDR-4322-NY
Apr 23, 2013Severe StormSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disasterDR-4111-NY
Oct 30, 2012HurricaneHurricane SandyMajor disasterDR-4085-NY
Oct 28, 2012HurricaneHurricane SandyEmergencyEM-3351-NY
Aug 31, 2011HurricaneHurricane IreneMajor disasterDR-4020-NY
Aug 26, 2011HurricaneHurricane IreneEmergencyEM-3328-NY
Feb 18, 2011Severe StormSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disasterDR-1957-NY
Apr 16, 2010Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1899-NY
Dec 31, 2009Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding Assoc W Td Ida & Nor'EasterMajor disasterDR-1869-NY
Apr 24, 2007Severe StormSevere Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMajor disasterDR-1692-NY
Sep 30, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3262-NY
Aug 3, 2004Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1534-NY
Aug 23, 2003OtherPower OutageEmergencyEM-3186-NY
Mar 27, 2003SnowstormSnowEmergencyEM-3184-NY
Sep 11, 2001FireFires and ExplosionsMajor disasterDR-1391-NY
Oct 11, 2000OtherWest Nile VirusEmergencyEM-3155-NY
Sep 19, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disasterDR-1296-NY
Nov 19, 1996Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Heavy Rains, High WindsMajor disasterDR-1146-NY
Jan 12, 1996SnowstormBlizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disasterDR-1083-NY
Mar 17, 1993SnowstormSevere BlizzardEmergencyEM-3107-NY
Dec 21, 1992FloodCoastal Storm, High Tides, Heavy Rain, & FloodingMajor disasterDR-974-NY
Sep 16, 1991HurricaneHurricane BobMajor disasterDR-918-NY
Oct 18, 1985HurricaneHurricane GloriaMajor disasterDR-750-NY
Apr 17, 1984FloodCoastal Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-702-NY
Sep 3, 1976HurricaneHurricane BelleMajor disasterDR-520-NY
Sep 13, 1971FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-311-NY
Aug 18, 1965DroughtWater ShortageMajor disasterDR-204-NY

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00004781.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Tsunamis NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database.
  • Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.