A weak tropical cyclone formed from a nearly stationary frontal zone south of Bermuda. Satellite imagery indicates a tropical depression developed about 200 nautical miles south of Bermuda at 1800 UTC on 27 August 2004. The system moved generally west-northwest then northward, became Tropical Storm Hermine at 1200 UTC 29 August, reached peak intensity on 30 August, and moved northward into the Gulf of Maine before becoming extratropical and being absorbed by a frontal zone by 1800 UTC 31 August.
Hermine made landfall on the southern coast of Massachusetts near New Bedford at about 0600 UTC on 31 August 2004. At landfall it was a weakening tropical storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 35 knots (about 40 mph). The circulation continued northward over New England and transitioned to an extratropical low later that day.
The storm’s maximum intensity was 50 knots (about 58 mph) with a minimum central pressure of 1002 mb, recorded at 0600 UTC on 30 August. Hermine never reached hurricane strength; its peak corresponds to a moderate tropical storm.
Storm surge and rainfall impacts were limited. Observations noted only a few bands of heavy rain and gusty winds over eastern Massachusetts; measured rainfall over Cape Cod and the nearby islands was mostly less than 0.5 inch. No sustained tropical-storm-force winds were recorded on land from Hermine. The report does not list specific storm-surge heights for individual locations.
There were no reports of damage or casualties attributed to Hermine. The most affected region in terms of weather was southeastern Massachusetts (including areas such as New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket), but impacts were minor.
Noteworthy items include a post-analysis that adjusted Hermine’s genesis to two days earlier than operationally determined, and a QuikSCAT satellite pass that supported the peak wind estimate. Forecast track errors at 24 and 36 hours were larger than the 1994–2003 averages, while intensity errors were smaller than the 10-year averages. A tropical storm warning was issued for southeastern Massachusetts from Woods Hole to Plymouth, including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, from 1700 UTC 30 August until 0900 UTC 31 August.
Paid members can generate summaries tailored to the counties of their choice. The Hermine TCR covers impacts across many counties and states — a Pinellas County resident doesn't need the Asheville detail, and a Buncombe County resident doesn't need the Tampa surge data.
Upgrade for county-specific summariesSummary above produced from the National Hurricane Center's official post-storm Tropical Cyclone Report. Read the full report for casualty lists, damage estimates by area, forecast critique, and detailed meteorological discussion:
📄 Read NHC's full report on Hermine → (opens at nhc.noaa.gov)| Time (UTC) | Status | Lat | Lon | Winds (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-08-27 18:00 | TD | 29.00 | -65.20 | 25 | 1016 | |
| 2004-08-28 00:00 | TD | 29.00 | -65.70 | 25 | 1016 | |
| 2004-08-28 06:00 | TD | 29.10 | -66.20 | 25 | 1016 | |
| 2004-08-28 12:00 | TD | 29.20 | -66.60 | 30 | 1015 | |
| 2004-08-28 18:00 | TD | 29.70 | -67.20 | 30 | 1015 | |
| 2004-08-29 00:00 | TD | 30.10 | -68.40 | 30 | 1014 | |
| 2004-08-29 06:00 | TD | 30.50 | -69.20 | 30 | 1014 | |
| 2004-08-29 12:00 | TS | 31.10 | -69.80 | 35 | 1012 | |
| 2004-08-29 18:00 | TS | 31.80 | -70.50 | 40 | 1005 | |
| 2004-08-30 00:00 | TS | 32.60 | -71.10 | 40 | 1005 | |
| 2004-08-30 06:00 | TS | 33.80 | -71.50 | 50 | 1002 | |
| 2004-08-30 12:00 | TS | 35.80 | -71.50 | 45 | 1007 | |
| 2004-08-30 18:00 | TS | 37.60 | -71.40 | 45 | 1008 | |
| 2004-08-31 00:00 | TS | 39.90 | -71.30 | 35 | 1011 | |
| 2004-08-31 06:00 | TS | 41.50 | -70.90 | 35 | 1012 | Landfall |
| 2004-08-31 12:00 | EX | 43.10 | -70.50 | 25 | 1014 |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 best-track database (nhc.noaa.gov/data). Data is in the public domain. Best-track positions and intensities are post-storm reanalysis estimates and may differ from real-time advisories.