There have been 115 hurricanes or tropical storms that affected the U.S. state of New Jersey. Due to its location, few hurricanes have hit the state directly, though numerous hurricanes have passed near or through New Jersey in its history. About every 10 years, hurricanes approach the coastline close enough to send waves over barrier islands' dunes and into back bays. According to an estimate by meteorologist George Prouflis, the chances for a direct hit by a hurricane on the Jersey Shore each year is 1 in 200.
New Jersey has seen the remnants of several once-powerful hurricanes, some resulting in heavy damage. Nine storms dropped over of rainfall in the state, including a hurricane in 1940 that interacted with a cold front and dropped of rainfall in Ewan. Numerous hurricanes that remained offshore have each drowned small numbers of swimmers.
List of tropical cyclones
Most of the following are tropical cyclones that passed through the state after weakening from their peak.
Pre–1900
In the 19th century, two hurricanes struck the coastline, each in 1804 and in 1821; both caused minor damage. The most significant storm of the century was the Gale of 1878, which produced hurricane-force winds across western New Jersey. The hurricane caused severe damage and 11 deaths. 1278–1438 – Sedimentary layers indicate a powerful hurricane hit the state's coastline during this time period. October 9, 1804 – The Storm of October 1804 struck near Atlantic City as a strong Category 2 or weak Category 3 hurricane, sinking or beaching many ships in the Mid–Atlantic. The hurricane later produces a snow storm in New England. August 23, 1806 – A ship off Barnegat Island sunk during the 1806 Great Coastal hurricane, killing 21 people. September 22, 1815 – The Great September Gale of 1815 caused heavy damage along the New Jersey coastline while remaining offshore, though exact totals are unknown. August 9, 1817 – A tropical storm moved through the western portion of the state. September 3, 1821 – An estimated Category 4 hurricane hits near Cape May. Accompanied by a five-foot storm surge, damage is great in the small town, though is only moderate along the coastline due to the sparse population. No known deaths are associated with the hurricane in the state. August 30, 1839 – An offshore hurricane forced the floating light in Sandy Hook to break loose and set adrift. October 3, 1841 – An offshore hurricane dropped rain and snow in New Brunswick. October 13, 1846 – The Great Havana Hurricane of 1846 passed near or over the state, destroying many houses, downing many trees, and drowning several livestock. July 18, 1850 – A tropical storm passed to the west of the state, causing heavy rain and crop damage in Burlington. August 25, 1850 – A hurricane passing south of Cape May dropped over of rain in New Brunswick. September 8, 1850 – An offshore hurricane produced high winds and of rain in Newark. September 28, 1861 – A strong tropical storm passed over the state. September 19, 1863 – A moderate tropical storm crossed the state. October 30, 1866 – A moderate tropical storm brushed the northeastern portion of the state before entering New York. October 26, 1872 – A tropical storm moves across New Jersey with winds of . August, 1873 – Though it never made landfall on the United States, the Great Nova Scotia Cyclone approached the state, prompting the U.S. Army Signal Corps to issue a hurricane warning from Cape May to New Haven, Connecticut. September 29, 1874 – A tropical storm moved through the state. October 23, 1878 – The Gale of 1878 struck North Carolina and moved into the Mid-Atlantic, producing winds of up to in Cape May. The hurricane causes high tides and strong flooding, destroying several houses along the coastline, and washing out several railroad lines. Strong winds destroyed around 150 houses in Camden. The hurricane killed eight people in the state. September 12, 1882 – A tropical storm passing south of the state caused strong winds and damage along the coastline. September 24, 1882 – A weak tropical storm paralleled the coastline. June 23, 1886 – A tropical depression crossed the state. September 10, 1889 – A hurricane stalled offshore the state and lashed the coastline with high winds, beach erosion, and severe storm tides. August 24, 1893 – A hurricane passed just east of the state before making landfall near New York City. The hurricane produced strong winds and rainfall along the coastline.