Massachusetts recorded 195 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 3 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 109 people. The busiest year was 1958, with 12.
Tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950: none under 10 10 to 25 25 to 50 50 to 75 75 to 100 over 100. Tap a county for its history.
Tornadoes by year
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in Massachusetts
July is the peak, with 66 tornadoes since 1950 (34% of the total).
How strong
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 52 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 98 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 36 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 6 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 3 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 0 |
The deadliest tornadoes in Massachusetts
| Date | Rating | Deaths in Massachusetts | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 9, 1953 | F4 (the Worcester tornado) | 94 | Worcester County |
| August 28, 1973 | F4 | 4 | Berkshire County |
| May 29, 1995 | F4 | 3 | Berkshire County |
| June 1, 2011 | EF3 | 3 | Hampden County, Worcester County |
| August 10, 1979 | F2 | 2 | Worcester County |
| September 7, 1958 | F0 | 1 | Plymouth County |
| October 3, 1970 | F3 | 1 | Middlesex County, Worcester County |
| August 9, 1972 | F1 | 1 | Norfolk County |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester County | 50 | 32 | F4 |
| Franklin County | 26 | 36 | F2 |
| Middlesex County | 20 | 24 | F3 |
| Hampden County | 20 | 32 | EF3 |
| Berkshire County | 19 | 20 | F4 |
| Norfolk County | 15 | 36 | F3 |
| Essex County | 14 | 27 | F3 |
| Bristol County | 14 | 24 | F3 |
| Plymouth County | 11 | 16 | F2 |
| Hampshire County | 10 | 18 | F3 |
| Barnstable County | 8 | 18 | EF1 |
| Dukes County | 2 | 16 | F2 |
| Suffolk County | 1 | 13 | EF2 |
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Norfolk County (36 per 1,000 sq mi), Franklin County (36 per 1,000 sq mi), Worcester County (32 per 1,000 sq mi), Hampden County (32 per 1,000 sq mi), Essex County (27 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in Massachusetts
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many tornadoes does Massachusetts get a year?
About 3 on average from 1950 to 2024; recent years run higher because weak tornadoes are better detected.
When is tornado season in Massachusetts?
July has had the most. Spring and early summer bring most of them.
What was the deadliest tornado in Massachusetts?
June 9, 1953: 94 deaths in Massachusetts (the Worcester tornado).