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Belknap County, New Hampshire
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1960 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
12
Tornado reports
64
Hail reports
41
Floods since 1996
584
All events
3
Deaths
$13.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Belknap County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 12 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in Ashland resulting in the death of a young girl and injuring her mother and brother as they tried to drive out of the flood waters in a local campground. Many roads were flooded or washed out in other areas of town.
A lightning strike injured 29 scouts and 1 leader at Camp Bell Boy Scout Camp on Griswold Scout Reservation near Gilmanton. All the Scouts were transported to a local hospital and were treated for burns, ranging from minor to serious. Several of the scouts were retained overnight…
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in the Laconia area washing out several roads and damaging cars and homes.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed a tree and wires blocking Brook Rd. in New Hampton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed a tree down blocking Hunkins Hill Rd. in Sanbornton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed a tree and wires blocking Bay Rd. in Sanbornton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed wires blocking Parade Rd. in Meredith.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed tree and wires blocking NH-11 in Gilford.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed a tree blocking NH-28 in the area of Emerson Drive in Alton.
Drought Drought
The USDM on April 28 had 43% of Belknap County in Severe Drought (D2), but by the end of May severe drought was reduced to 37%, with 63% in Moderate Drought (D1) and less than 1% Abnormally Dry (D0). May rainfall averaged 6.40 inches, well above normal by 2.84'. However, one wet …
Drought Drought
Belknap County averaged 3.55 inches of precipitation in April, approximately 0.50 inches below normal, extending the deficits since June up to 9 inches. The USDM on March 31st had 100% of the county in Severe Drought (D2), which dropped to 43% by the end of the month. Moderate dr…
Drought Drought
Belknap County averaged 3.21 inches of precipitation in March, approximately 0.25 inches below normal, extending the deficits since June up to 8 inches. The USDM on March 31st had 100% of the county in Severe Drought (D2).
Drought Drought
Belknap County averaged 1.22 inches of precipitation in February, approximately 1.63 inches below normal, marking the 10th driest February. The USDM on February 24th had 100% of the county in Severe Drought (D2).
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow overspread the Lakes Region by midday on the 25th. Within an hour or two snow was moderate to heavy at times as an intense band of lift moved into the region. Snowfall rates were one to two inches per hour during the heavy snow. Snow continued overnight into the 26th, with o…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
During the early morning on the 24th temperatures plunged below zero. Strong cold air advection allowed mechanical mixing to occur through the night. Sustained winds of 15 to 20 mph, and frequent gusts even higher, led to wind chills of 15 to 30 below zero.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Precipitation began in the very early morning hours on the 29th, and began mainly as freezing rain except for a few spots that started as snow. The freezing rain was heaviest and accumulated most rapidly through the morning hours. It was around this time that trees and wires bega…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow squalls arrived in the Lakes Region during the afternoon of the 4th. At 318 pm the Laconia Municipal Airport reported visibility falling to 1/4 mile and winds gusting to 39 mph. The squalls lasted about 30 to 45 minutes before conditions improved. Snowfall amounts were gener…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow overspread the Lakes Region on the morning of the 2nd. A nearly stationary band of snow set up over the region through the afternoon, with moderate to heavy snow at times. Snow tapered off late in the evening on the 2nd. Snowfall totals range from 8 to 10 inches.
Drought Drought
Belknap County averaged 1.85 inches of precipitation in December, which is approximately 2.1 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits since July grew to over 9 inches, maintaining its status as the 2nd driest July'December stretch on record. Lake Winnipesaukee hit below normal …
Drought Drought
Belknap County averaged 2.12 inches of precipitation in November, which is nearly 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew close to 7 inches, making it the 2nd driest stretch between July through November on record, the driest being 1922. Lake Wi…
Drought Drought
Belknap County averaged 2.84 inches of precipitation in September, approximately an inch below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew to over 5 inches, making it the second driest stretch between July through September on record, the driest being 1948. Lake W…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Significant tree damage was located in Sanbornton, NH that was consistent with a wet microburst. Numerous eye witnesses expressed that the strongest winds occurred with the heaviest downpour. Damage was variable in the downburst area with a general southeast fall direction to the…
Hail Hail
Large hail associated with a severe thunderstorm dropped hail the size of golf balls south of Laconia.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed a large tree crushing a parked car on Sawtooth Rd. in Gilmanton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed trees on Stage Rd. and Fatima Rd. in Gilmanton.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Light snow overspread the area in the evening on the 15th. This continued into the morning of the 16th when an area of strong warm air advection resulted in a laterally translating band of moderate to heavy snow. This swept through the region by the afternoon of the 16th. Periods…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow overspread the area in the late evening on the 8th. Strong warm air advection resulted in a broad area of snow, but embedded within that area of precipitation a relatively narrow band of occasionally heavy snow developed. A very deep snow growth zone also led to a prolonged …
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow squalls arrived over the Lakes Region during the morning on the 28th. At 811 am the Laconia Municipal Airport reported visibility falling to 1/4 mile and winds gusting to 35 mph. The squalls lasted about 10 or 15 minutes before conditions improved. Snowfall amounts were gene…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow overspread the Lakes Region in the late afternoon and early evening of the 19th. A band of steady moderate snow developed and remained over the area into the early morning of the 20th. Snowfall totals ranged from 5 to 7 inches. Key Impacts: Heavy snow.
Hail Hail
A severe thunderstorm dropped hail the size of quarters in Dover.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed a tree near Youngtown Rd. in Alton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed trees and wires near Halls Hill Rd. and Horne Rd. in Alton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed trees and wires in Belmont, NH.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow overspread the area during the evening of the 3rd, heavy at times overnight into the morning of the 4th. Given the late season nature of the storm, much of the Lakes Region observed temperatures at or just above freezing in addition to the heavy snow. As a result much of the…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall rates in excess of 1 inch per hour in the morning led to snowfall totals ranging between 8 and 22 inches.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow squalls arrived in central New Hampshire during the afternoon on the 14th. At 348 pm the Laconia Municipal Airport reported visibility of one quarter mile with winds gusting to 47 mph. The squalls lasted about 20 minutes at any given location before conditions improved. Snow…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Light to moderate snow began late in the evening on the 6th. Heavy snow began early in the morning on the 7th as a mesoscale band forced by strong warm air advection lifted in the Lakes Regions and settled overhead into the afternoon. Snowfall rates in excess of 1 to 2 inches per…
Flood Flood
The Suncook River reached moderate flood stage on December 18th following heavy rain and snowmelt. The basin average rainfall was around 4 inches, causing the Suncook River to rise to 12.1 feet at the USGS river gage in North Chichester. Several properties were surrounded by floo…
Hail Hail
A severe thunderstorm dropped hail the size of quarters in Alton Bay, NH.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain caused a washout on Avery Hill Road due to rushing water off steep terrain.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain caused a wash-out on White Oak Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Severe flooding reported across Alton after 4 to 7 inches of rain fell on the 16th. Ground conditions were saturated ahead of this event due to multiple heavy rain events the weeks prior to the flooding. The hardest hit areas were in central and southern Alton where several areas…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain between 3 and 5 inches caused a large sinkhole on Cherry Valley Road, cutting off some residents.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain between 3 and 5 inches caused multiple washouts on Will Smith Road, cutting off some residents.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain between 3 and 5 inches caused a washout on Vail Road.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
A hard freeze impacted the region shortly after midnight on May 18th with widespread sub-freezing temperatures. Temperatures ranged from freezing to the mid-20s. Tilton reported a low of 28 degrees. The temperatures were some of the coldest this late in spring in over the past 30…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 0 |
| 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 | 12 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 1 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 | 12 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 | 14 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 17 | 2 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 | 30 | 1 |
| 2011 | 17 | 0 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | 15 | 0 |
| 2008 | 37 | 1 |
| 2007 | 23 | 0 |
| 2006 | 23 | 0 |
| 2005 | 25 | 0 |
| 2004 | 13 | 1 |
| 2003 | 14 | 0 |
| 2002 | 25 | 0 |
| 2001 | 31 | 0 |
| 2000 | 30 | 0 |
| 1999 | 34 | 1 |
| 1998 | 26 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 0 |
| 1996 | 21 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 1 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 2 | 2 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1960 | 2 | 1 |
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See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Belknap County, measured to its path.
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