Carroll County
Population 52,784 (2025) 932 sq mi
Property owners in Carroll County have filed 290 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 5th most of 10 counties in New Hampshire.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195010
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger25
- Major flood years since 19784
At a glance
The record for Carroll County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
19
7th of 10 in New Hampshire
2 at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsTornadoes since 1950
10
6th of 10 in New Hampshire
About as many as the typical New Hampshire county
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF2
July 24, 2008, 50.5 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 2
Hurricane (unnamed), 1869, 44.1 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 7.6 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
July 24, 2008
EF2, 50.5 mile path
880 yards wide; 1 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, August 22, 2020
EF0, 1.6 mile path
6 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Aug 22, 2020 | EF0 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2008 | EF2 | 50.5 | 2 | 1 |
| Sep 29, 2006 | F0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1986 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1986 | F1 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 25, 1972 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 9, 1972 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 28, 1970 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 23, 1965 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 18, 1963 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Carroll County: 0.
- 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
19 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 2 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 4, 1869
Unnamed storm, Category 2
44.1 miles at closest approach, winds near 104 mph.
Most recent
July 9, 2021
Elsa, Post-tropical
73.2 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Elsa | 2021 | 73.2 | Post-tropical |
| Isaias | 2020 | 73.9 | Post-tropical |
| Andrea | 2013 | 78.6 | Post-tropical |
| Irene | 2011 | 28.3 | Post-tropical |
| Hanna | 2008 | 71.4 | Post-tropical |
| Floyd | 1999 | 24.3 | Post-tropical |
| Bertha | 1996 | 39.2 | Tropical storm |
| Bob | 1991 | 53.2 | Category 1 |
| Gloria | 1985 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 13.1 | Post-tropical |
| Belle | 1976 | 88.5 | Tropical storm |
| Doria | 1971 | 7.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1968 | 37.3 | Post-tropical |
| Esther | 1961 | 51.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1961 | 16.7 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 10.7 | Tropical storm |
| Brenda | 1960 | 1.2 | Tropical storm |
| Cindy | 1959 | 92.1 | Tropical storm |
| Carol | 1954 | 0.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 18.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 67.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1938 | 82.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 0.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 72.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 45.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 9.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1908 | 21.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 49.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 0.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 24.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 33.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 5.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 28.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 63.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 82.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 94.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 44.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 8.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1869 | 44.1 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1869 | 10.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1866 | 79.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 26.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 33.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1858 | 2.6 | Tropical storm |
- 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
No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 48 days
Heavy smoke on 8 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
14.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
19 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 13 so far in 2026.
- 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
290 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $2.8 million paid.
Most claims in one year
1998: 44 claims
$290,000 paid.
2nd most
1987: 41 claims
$198,000 paid.
3rd most
2011: 39 claims
$882,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 03818 | 56 | $853,000 |
| 03814 | 51 | $278,000 |
| 03890 | 47 | $283,000 |
| 03812 | 34 | $568,000 |
| 03864 | 27 | $61,000 |
| 03860 | 15 | $175,000 |
| 03838 | 13 | $217,000 |
| 10 | $37,000 | |
| 03813 | 6 | $109,000 |
| 03254 | 5 | $50,000 |
| 03845 | 5 | $22,000 |
| 03883 | 5 | $50,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood87
- Flash Flood48
- Heavy Rain5
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
Most severe crest
December 19, 2023
Saco River near Conway, 17.71 ft
8.71 feet above the 9.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
December 19, 2023
Saco River near Conway, 17.71 ft
Major flooding.
| Dec 19, 2023 | Saco River near Conway | 17.71 | +8.71 |
| Aug 29, 2011 | Saco River near Conway | 17.23 | +8.23 |
| Mar 27, 1953 | Saco River near Conway | 17.20 | +8.20 |
| Apr 1, 1987 | Saco River near Conway | 17.04 | +8.04 |
| Mar 19, 1936 | Saco River near Conway | 16.45 | +7.45 |
| Oct 24, 1959 | Saco River near Conway | 16.39 | +7.39 |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Saco River at Bartlett | 14.83 | +4.83 |
| Oct 30, 2017 | Saco River at Bartlett | 13.93 | +3.93 |
| Dec 18, 2023 | Saco River at Bartlett | 13.87 | +3.87 |
| Mar 14, 1977 | Saco River near Conway | 15.61 | +6.61 |
| Jun 30, 1973 | Saco River near Conway | 15.06 | +6.06 |
| Oct 30, 2017 | Saco River near Conway | 15.04 | +6.04 |
| Jun 14, 1998 | Saco River near Conway | 14.67 | +5.67 |
| Mar 12, 1936 | Saco River near Conway | 14.33 | +5.33 |
| Nov 26, 1950 | Saco River near Conway | 13.84 | +4.84 |
| Jan 28, 1986 | Saco River near Conway | 13.73 | +4.73 |
| Apr 25, 1968 | Saco River near Conway | 13.65 | +4.65 |
| May 1, 2023 | Saco River near Conway | 13.60 | +4.60 |
| Nov 3, 1966 | Saco River near Conway | 13.46 | +4.46 |
| Nov 12, 1995 | Saco River near Conway | 13.35 | +4.35 |
| Apr 27, 1979 | Saco River near Conway | 13.25 | +4.25 |
| Apr 16, 2014 | Saco River near Conway | 13.13 | +4.13 |
| Dec 21, 1973 | Saco River near Conway | 13.06 | +4.06 |
| Dec 18, 2003 | Saco River near Conway | 12.86 | +3.86 |
| Nov 8, 1963 | Saco River near Conway | 12.70 | +3.70 |
River gauges
| Saco River at Bartlett | 10.0 | 14.83 ft | 3 |
| Saco River near Conway | 9.0 | 17.71 ft | 6 |
- 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.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 62 of 1,581 months since 1895 (4%); the longest spell lasted 8 months.
62
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
4
Months in extreme drought
4%
Share of all months, severe or worse
38
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
December 2001
−4.10, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
8 months
March 1965 to October 1965.
Latest month
September 2026
−1.84, mild drought
Last severe month: April 2026.
- 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
9 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 5.6 in 1940.
4
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
23
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
9
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
2
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
December 24, 1940
5 km NNW of Tamworth, New Hampshire; inside the county, 5.0 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
January 27, 2025
Magnitude 3.8
9 km SE of York Harbor, Maine; 36.8 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Oct 16, 2012 | 4.7 | 15.4 |
| May 29, 1983 | 4.2 | 33.0 |
| Jan 18, 1982 | 4.5 | 17.8 |
| Apr 26, 1957 | 4.4 | 35.0 |
| Dec 24, 1940 | 5.6 | Inside |
| Dec 20, 1940 | 5.3 | Inside |
| Oct 9, 1925 | 4.0 | Inside |
| Aug 21, 1918 | 4.2 | 25.9 |
| Jan 22, 1910 | 4.1 | 32.7 |
- 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
- 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.
Severe weather and other events
1,054 events in the National Weather Service record, 1,013 of them since 1996.
52
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
2
Hail, 2 inches or larger
173
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
408
Winter weather events since 1996
5
Heat events since 1996
48
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
August 24, 1998
2.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 18, 2026
100 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 23 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Jan 7, 1998Ice Storm, Southern Carroll$5.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
A severe ICE STORM hit sections of New Hampshire from January 7 through January 9. The hardest hit areas in northern and central New Hampshire were generally between about 1000 and 2000 ft above sea level. While many cities and towns at lower elevations received only rain, towns at higher elevations, such as New London, where the temperatures were slightly cooler had freezing rain. Ice accreted several inches thick on trees, power lines, and other exposed surfaces causing many people in those areas to lose electrical service. Statewide, the storm knocked out power to about 55,000 customers, an estimated 125,000 people. During the time without power, residents and those involved…
- Jan 7, 1998Ice Storm, Northern Carroll$5.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
A severe ICE STORM hit sections of New Hampshire from January 7 through January 9. The hardest hit areas in northern and central New Hampshire were generally between about 1000 and 2000 ft above sea level. While many cities and towns at lower elevations received only rain, towns at higher elevations, such as New London, where the temperatures were slightly cooler had freezing rain. Ice accreted several inches thick on trees, power lines, and other exposed surfaces causing many people in those areas to lose electrical service. Statewide, the storm knocked out power to about 55,000 customers, an estimated 125,000 people. During the time without power, residents and those involved…
- Aug 28, 2011Flash Flood$2.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene caused serious flash flooding on the Saco River in Bartlett.
- Apr 16, 2007Flood$1.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Overview: An area of low pressure intensified rapidly as it moved slowly from the southeastern United States on the morning of Sunday, April 15th to near New York City by the morning of Monday, April 16th. The intense low over New York City in combination with high pressure over eastern Canada produced a very intense pressure gradient across the area which caused strong east to northeast winds to develop across the region. Over land, the strong winds downed numerous trees. The downed trees caused widespread power outages, especially near the coast, and numerous road closures. Over the marine areas, the strong winds caused a storm surge and large ocean waves of up to 30 feet to…
- Jun 14, 1998Flash Flood$550,000
National Weather Service narrative
Three to eight inches of rain caused small rivers and streams to rise. Many roads were flooded and/or washed out. Campgrounds and some lakeside homes had to be evacuated. The hardest hit towns were Rochester, Salem, Portsmouth, Farmington, Windham, Ossipee, Meredith, Tilton, and Durham.
- Aug 28, 2011Flash Flood$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene caused flash flooding in Conway.
- Aug 28, 2011Flood$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene caused serious flooding on the Saco River at Conway (flood stage 9.0 ft), which crested at 17.2.
- Aug 28, 2011Flood$400,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene caused flooding of small rivers and streams in Ossipee.
- Dec 18, 2023Flash Flood$380,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain and rapid snowmelt combined with steep terrain to produce rapid runoff into the Ellis River. The small stream became a raging river after 6 inches of rain and 3 inches of snowmelt overwhelmed the stream system. Downstream in Jackson, properties along the river were inundated, along with several roads being damaged. The main thruway, NH Route 16, closed at mile marker 92.6, and adjacent NH 16B also flooded. Washouts were also reported in many local roads like Green Hill Road.
- Jul 24, 2008Tornado$347,000
National Weather Service narrative
An E-F2 tornado moving out of Strafford County crossed into Carroll 2.9 miles east of South Wolfboro and continued to skip north northeast for almost 20 miles through the town of Freedom. F0 to F2 damage occurred along the path of the storm and many thousands of trees were blown down. Cars, homes and other structures were also damaged.
- 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 N Conway, 17.1 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1974.
- All-time high
- 103°FAug 3, 1975
- All-time low
- −29°FJan 20, 1994
- Warmest night
- 75°FJun 28, 2021
- Coldest day
- −6°FDec 26, 1980
- Wettest day
- 4.67 inJun 14, 1998
- Snowiest day
- 18.0 inFeb 6, 2001
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 48.5°F
- Coldest year
- 1976mean 43.0°F
- Wettest year
- 200565.86 in
- Driest year
- 200131.80 in
- Snowiest season
- 147.0 in2007-08
Median first snow
November 16
Earliest: October 10, 1979
Median last snow
April 10
Latest: May 9, 2020
0 of 52 winters had no measurable snow.
Station N Conway (USC00275995), 522 ft elevation, 17.1 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1974 to October 26, 2026; 99.5% 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 7, 2026.
| Oct 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4947-NH |
| Jul 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799-NH |
| Feb 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761-NH |
| Sep 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740-NH |
| Mar 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4693-NH |
| Apr 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516-NH |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445-NH |
| Jun 8, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4371-NH |
| Jan 2, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4355-NH |
| Jun 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4316-NH |
| Mar 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105-NH |
| Nov 28, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4095-NH |
| Oct 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360-NH |
| Nov 1, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3344-NH |
| Sep 3, 2011 | Hurricane | DR-4026-NH |
| Aug 27, 2011 | Hurricane | EM-3333-NH |
| Jan 2, 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1812-NH |
| Dec 13, 2008 | Severe Storm | EM-3297-NH |
| Sep 5, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1787-NH |
| Aug 11, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1782-NH |
| Apr 27, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1695-NH |
| May 25, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1643-NH |
| Sep 19, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3258-NH |
| Apr 28, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3211-NH |
| Mar 30, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3207-NH |
| Mar 30, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3208-NH |
| Jan 15, 2004 | Snowstorm | EM-3193-NH |
| Jul 2, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1231-NH |
| Jan 15, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1199-NH |
| Jan 3, 1996 | Flood | DR-1077-NH |
| Mar 16, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3101-NH |
| Sep 9, 1991 | Hurricane | DR-917-NH |
| Aug 29, 1990 | Flood | DR-876-NH |
| Apr 16, 1987 | Flood | DR-789-NH |
| Jan 21, 1974 | Flood | DR-411-NH |
| Jul 11, 1973 | Flood | DR-399-NH |
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.
How this compares
Where Carroll County stands among 10 counties in New Hampshire and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 10 | 6 / 10 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 19 | 7 / 10 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 2 | 5 / 10 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 290 | 5 / 10 |
| Flood insurance paid | $2.8 million | 6 / 10 |
| Disaster declarations | 36 | 2 / 10 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 140 | 2 / 10 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 366 | 6 / 10 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 408 | 1 / 10 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $22.2 million | 5 / 10 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 9 | 4 / 10 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 62 | 9 / 10 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 14.4 | 4 / 10 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 9 | 1 / 10 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 4 | 5 / 10 |
Neighbouring counties
| Belknap County | 12 | 21 |
| Coos County | 8 | 10 |
| Grafton County | 13 | 13 |
| Oxford County ME | 17 | 18 |
| Strafford County | 7 | 22 |
| York County ME | 14 | 22 |
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 USC00275995.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, 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.
- 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.