Middlesex County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Connecticut Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Middlesex County is much higher than Connecticut average and is much higher than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Middlesex County is lower than Connecticut average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #1
| Middlesex County | 3.40 |
| Connecticut | 0.94 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Middlesex County | 0.0000 |
| Connecticut | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #5
| Middlesex County | 87.63 |
| Connecticut | 100.22 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 11,615 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Middlesex County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 10 | Cold: | 52 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 17 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,891 | Hail: | 2,037 | Heat: | 51 | Heavy Snow: | 203 |
| High Surf: | 7 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 13 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 311 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 5,298 | Tropical Storm: | 2 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 90 | Winter Weather: | 39 |
| Other: | 1,592 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Middlesex County.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 2 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Middlesex County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 21.1 | 1981-11-21 | 3.8 | 6 | 41.13 | -72.56 |
| 21.1 | 1981-10-21 | 3.5 | 6 | 41.13 | -72.56 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 27 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Middlesex County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 9.4 | 1950-07-12 | 2 | 41°34'N / 72°34'W | 10.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Middlesex | |
| 10.4 | 1951-08-21 | 3 | 41°35'N / 72°30'W | 0 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Middlesex | |||
| 20.7 | 1989-07-10 | 4 | 41°23'N / 72°54'W | 41°19'N / 72°55'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 40 | 250.0M | 0 | New Haven |
| 22.4 | 1962-05-24 | 3 | 41°34'N / 72°56'W | 41°36'N / 72°53'W | 2.30 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Hartford |
| 22.5 | 1973-09-18 | 2 | 41°36'N / 72°54'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | New Haven | |||
| 23.3 | 1973-08-31 | 2 | 41°44'N / 72°44'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hartford | |||
| 25.9 | 1973-09-06 | 2 | 41°48'N / 72°32'W | 41°49'N / 72°27'W | 3.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Hartford |
| 26.0 | 1984-07-05 | 2 | 41°40'N / 72°57'W | 41°43'N / 72°50'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hartford |
| 27.3 | 1962-05-24 | 3 | 41°33'N / 73°07'W | 41°34'N / 72°56'W | 9.30 Miles | 120 Yards | 1 | 45 | 2.5M | 0 | New Haven |
| 27.6 | 1955-10-24 | 2 | 41°30'N / 73°03'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | New Haven | |
| 28.3 | 1971-07-29 | 3 | 41°33'N / 73°03'W | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | New Haven | |||
| 28.9 | 1989-07-10 | 2 | 41°34'N / 73°05'W | 41°33'N / 73°02'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 50 | 25.0M | 0 | New Haven |
| 30.0 | 1999-08-08 | 2 | 41°00'N / 72°31'W | 41°00'N / 72°28'W | 4.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 1.0M | 0 | Suffolk |
| Brief Description: A cluster of severe thunderstorms formed north of an approaching strong warm front and moved east-southeast, just north of the front. A severe thunderstorm produced a tornado along the south shore of the North Fork of Suffolk County on Long Island. The tornado touched down and lifted several times along a 4 mile path as it moved east-southeast from just southeast of Mattituck Air Base, across Marratooka Pt., Kimogener Pt. (of New Suffolk), Cutchogue Harbor, Central Nassau Pt., then lifted as it crossed Hog Neck Bay. The National Weather Service Survey showed that the tornado touched down first in southern sections of Mattituck. This was in the backyard area bounded to the west by Marratooka Road, to the north by Center Street, and to the south by Park Ave. Most damage at this location was to trees, where many tops were twisted off and several snapped off at 5 to 15 feet above the ground. This was estimated as F1 damage. The tornado "bounced" and continued east to the dirt road extension of Park Ave., where it lifted the roof off a cottage at #520. The roof of the building detached from the house and was carried about 115 feet to the northeast. The tornado continued east for about 1/2 mile, then touched down again at 10 Kimogenor Point. It ripped off the porch and part of the main roof of the house. It apparently developed a few separate vortices at this location. One twisted a 100 year old metal windmill over high tension power lines and did some significant damage to large trees. Another vortex slammed into the front porch at 2 Kimogenor Point. It ripped off the porch and a large section of the roof of the house. The lone inhabitant said he saw a "wall of water" heading toward his house and instinctively dove into the stone fireplace to protect himself as the storm hit. Winds were estimated over 100 mph over this part of the tornado's path. The tornado continued east along Jackson Ave. causing havoc with many mature trees in the area. The most significant damage occurred in the vicinity of Jackson Ave. and Fifth Street, where winds were estimated from 110 to 120 mph, due to the devastation to many large trees. This was the area where F2 damage was observed. This was also the widest path width, which was estimated at 300 yards. The tornado continued east along Jackson Ave. creating F1 damage then went over Cutchogue Harbor. Eyewitnesses from Nassau Point (Little Hog Neck) said they saw the tornado over the water just east of New Suffolk. They saw several suction vortices rotating around the main funnel. The tornado moved across Nassau Point, in the vicinity of Wunnaweta Pond, where it twisted and sheared off many trees that fell on and damaged houses. It bounced again and hit close to the ground near #6225 and #6325 Nassau Point Road. Many trees fell onto and damaged homes. These backyards were on top of a cliff overlooking Hogs Neck Bay. The tornado lifted before hitting these homes. This was the last indication of tornadic damage. The latest cost estimates of damage from the Southhold Supervisor's Office are in excess of $1 million dollars. One injury occurred as a person was struck by flying debris. | |||||||||||
| 31.3 | 1951-08-21 | 2 | 41°37'N / 73°25'W | 41°48'N / 72°36'W | 43.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 9 | 250K | 0 | Litchfield |
| 31.5 | 1989-07-10 | 2 | 41°36'N / 73°07'W | 41°34'N / 73°05'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Litchfield |
| 33.0 | 1951-08-20 | 2 | 41°52'N / 72°15'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Tolland | |||
| 33.1 | 1973-06-12 | 2 | 41°37'N / 73°07'W | 1.50 Miles | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Litchfield | |
| 33.4 | 1954-05-10 | 3 | 41°55'N / 72°28'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Tolland | |
| 34.2 | 1958-09-07 | 2 | 41°54'N / 72°18'W | 1.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Tolland | |
| 36.2 | 1965-08-19 | 2 | 41°58'N / 72°28'W | 41°56'N / 72°20'W | 6.60 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Tolland |
| 36.9 | 1962-06-18 | 2 | 41°46'N / 73°05'W | 0.10 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Litchfield | |
| 37.6 | 1979-10-03 | 4 | 41°53'N / 72°40'W | 42°03'N / 72°42'W | 11.30 Miles | 1400 Yards | 3 | 500 | 250.0M | 0 | Hartford |
| 39.6 | 2001-06-23 | 2 | 41°48'N / 73°07'W | 41°48'N / 73°07'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Litchfield |
| Brief Description: A warm front, moving into Connecticut, produced a line of showers and isolated thunderstorms during the early afternoon of June 23. One cell developed into a supercell which then spawned two tornados in Litchfield County. The first tornado touched down in the northern end of the town of Washington, on a golf course near Lake Waramaug, cutting a path 50 yards wide and a mile in length. It hit during a lull of a golf tornament that was going on there, damaging the fourth hole of the course as well as destroying a metal fence around a tennis court. This tornado also demolished a storage building. This was ranked as an F1 Tornado, with winds estimated between 75 and 100 mph, by National Weather Service Personnel. The tornado also took out many trees around this area. The tornado lifted back up, but then reformed from the cell as the storm moved into the cities of Torrington and Winstead. This second tornado was ranked on the Fujita scale as an F2 with winds estimated between 100 and 130 mph. It touched down near the Torrington Middle School, over the Midget Football Field cutting a swath two hundred yards wide and a half a mile in length. The tornado destroyed an 8,000 dollar shed that had recently been completed by the Midget Football League. The second twister also demolished the bleachers and part of a roof at the Torrington Middle school. In addition, hundreds of large trees were uprooted. Powerlines were also destroyed. One person was injured when a portion of the blown off roof fell on him, resulting in bone fractures. | |||||||||||
| 43.2 | 1954-05-10 | 2 | 42°00'N / 72°53'W | 0.80 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Hartford | |
| 44.7 | 1989-07-10 | 2 | 40°49'N / 72°47'W | 0.20 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Suffolk | |
| 45.7 | 1989-07-10 | 2 | 41°50'N / 73°20'W | 41°43'N / 73°14'W | 10.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25.0M | 0 | Litchfield |
| 46.5 | 1975-07-24 | 2 | 42°06'N / 72°40'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hampden | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.