Hamden, CT Tornado History — 49 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Hamden, CT had?
Hamden has had 49 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Hamden?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Hamden was an EF0 on August 12, 2023.
When is tornado season in Hamden?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Hamden, with 20 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Hamden
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 19 total, averaging 0.9 per year over this window.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Hamden
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Hamden since 1950, across 1 event. 182 injuries have been reported across all events. 1962 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on May 24, 1962, which caused 1 fatality along a 11.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Hamden
About Tornadoes in Hamden
This overview was written July 29, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Hamden lies in New Haven County, in the Quinnipiac River lowlands just north of New Haven, beneath the traprock ridge of Sleeping Giant. Tornadoes in this corner of south-central Connecticut have arrived mostly in deep summer, in July and August, though spring and autumn have produced storms of their own.
On July 10, 1989, an F4 tornado cut a three-mile path through the area, injuring 40 people and causing $275 million in property damage; an F2 that same day tracked five miles and injured 70 more. Earlier generations knew the hazard too: an F3 on May 24, 1962 traveled 11.6 miles, killing one person and injuring 50, and on August 21, 1951 an F2 ran a 43.9-mile track, injuring nine.
The EF era opened here with an EF1 on May 16, 2007. Summer outbreaks followed the familiar rhythm — EF1 tornadoes touched down on July 21, 2010 — while EF1s on May 15, 2018 showed the season can start early. The calendar has stretched the other way as well: EF0 tornadoes arrived on November 13, 2021, deep into autumn, and an EF0 passed through on August 13, 2023. For a town shaped by ridge and valley rather than open plains, the pattern is steady enough to take seriously each summer.