16,383
Recorded events
14
Counties covered
152
Direct deaths
$1.2B
Property damage
Massachusetts severe weather history covers 16,383 recorded events across 14 counties between 1951 and 2026.
The Massachusetts severe weather history record is dominated by thunderstorm wind, which accounts for 27.6% of everything logged statewide across 14 counties. Statewide, recorded events have caused 152 direct deaths since 1950.
By hazard type
Massachusetts severe weather history by hazard
| Hazard | Events | Counties | Deaths | Damage | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 4,529 | 14 | 12 | $51.9M | 1956–2026 |
| Strong Wind | 2,133 | 0 | 6 | $6.1M | 1996–2026 |
| High Wind | 1,592 | 0 | 7 | $33.8M | 1996–2026 |
| Hail | 1,546 | 14 | 0 | $3.5M | 1955–2025 |
| Heavy Snow | 1,488 | 0 | 2 | $78.4M | 1996–2026 |
| Flood | 1,005 | 14 | 2 | $224.4M | 1996–2024 |
| Winter Weather | 748 | 0 | 2 | $2.6M | 1996–2026 |
| Winter Storm | 689 | 0 | 0 | $11.4M | 1996–2026 |
| Flash Flood | 604 | 12 | 0 | $92.2M | 1996–2025 |
| Lightning | 500 | 14 | 8 | $26.2M | 1996–2026 |
| Coastal Flood | 274 | 0 | 0 | $45.3M | 1996–2025 |
| Heavy Rain | 273 | 14 | 0 | $75K | 1996–2025 |
| Drought | 208 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 1999–2024 |
| Tornado | 205 | 13 | 105 | $544.5M | 1951–2025 |
| Tropical Storm | 95 | 0 | 0 | $35.3M | 2008–2023 |
| Heat | 92 | 0 | 3 | $0 | 1996–2025 |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 80 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 1999–2026 |
| Blizzard | 70 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 2005–2026 |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 64 | 0 | 1 | $0 | 2000–2026 |
| Storm Surge/Tide | 43 | 5 | 0 | $1.8M | 2002–2011 |
| Excessive Heat | 35 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 2000–2025 |
| Ice Storm | 33 | 0 | 0 | $45.4M | 1998–2019 |
| Frost/Freeze | 29 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 2002–2023 |
| Funnel Cloud | 23 | 9 | 0 | $0 | 1996–2020 |
| Wildfire | 10 | 0 | 0 | $75K | 2002–2024 |
| Waterspout | 6 | 4 | 0 | $0 | 1996–2000 |
| High Surf | 3 | 0 | 3 | $0 | 2003–2018 |
| Debris Flow | 3 | 2 | 0 | $50K | 2010–2020 |
| Rip Current | 2 | 0 | 1 | $0 | 2006–2011 |
| Dust Devil | 1 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 1997–1997 |
County index
Most active counties
| County | Events | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester County | 1,258 | 96 |
| Middlesex County | 1,134 | 2 |
| Berkshire County | 1,004 | 10 |
| Hampden County | 910 | 3 |
| Franklin County | 702 | 1 |
| Essex County | 663 | 6 |
| Hampshire County | 641 | 1 |
| Norfolk County | 562 | 1 |
| Bristol County | 521 | 1 |
| Plymouth County | 438 | 3 |
| Barnstable County | 269 | 1 |
| Suffolk County | 255 | 2 |
| Dukes County | 51 | 0 |
| Nantucket County | 25 | 0 |
Full index
Every county in Massachusetts
- Worcester County
- Middlesex County
- Berkshire County
- Hampden County
- Franklin County
- Essex County
- Hampshire County
- Norfolk County
- Bristol County
- Plymouth County
- Barnstable County
- Suffolk County
- Dukes County
- Nantucket County
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many severe weather events are recorded in Massachusetts?
16,383 events are on record across Massachusetts, covering 14 counties between 1951 and 2026.
Which county in Massachusetts has the most severe weather on record?
Worcester County leads Massachusetts with 1,258 recorded events. Ranking reflects reported events, so densely populated counties tend to report more than sparsely populated ones.
Where does the Massachusetts severe weather history data come from?
Totals are aggregated from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of United States severe weather reports, with FEMA and U.S. Census records providing risk and population context. Dates are UTC and recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Massachusetts Severe Weather History.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/state/massachusetts/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.