Is the Northeast overdue for a hurricane? Here’s what it would take

It’s been more than three decades since a true hurricane made landfall in the Northeast and over 70 years since a major one did.

While Florida and the Gulf Coast face frequent hits, New England states have largely escaped direct strikes in recent memory. But history, science and a handful of close calls tell a different story: This region isn’t immune; it’s overdue.

“The Northeast is climatologically overdue for a direct hurricane landfall,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. “This kind of storm will happen again in New England; it’s just a question of when. People have to be prepared.”

A long stretch without a landfalling hurricane doesn't mean the risk has gone away. In fact, meteorologists say the odds of another major hurricane hitting the Northeast are about 1.5%