Tornado Risk in Massachusetts
All Massachusetts counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index tornado score
Tornado risk — violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage — is rated for 14 of 14 Massachusetts counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Essex County carries the state's highest tornado score at 92.4, with $9M in expected annual tornado losses.
1 Massachusetts county is rated High or Very High for tornado, and expected annual losses from tornado total roughly $40M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Tornado
| # | County | Tornado Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essex County | High | 0.12 / yr | $9M | |
| 2 | Middlesex County | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $9M | |
| 3 | Hampden County | Medium | 0.19 / yr | $4M | |
| 4 | Worcester County | Medium | 0.38 / yr | $5M | |
| 5 | Suffolk County | Medium | 0.02 / yr | $3M | |
| 6 | Norfolk County | Medium | 0.08 / yr | $3M | |
| 7 | Bristol County | Low | 0.11 / yr | $1M | |
| 8 | Berkshire County | Low | 0.27 / yr | $1M | |
| 9 | Plymouth County | Low | 0.14 / yr | $2M | |
| 10 | Hampshire County | Low | 0.16 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Barnstable County | Low | 0.09 / yr | $1M | |
| 12 | Franklin County | Low | 0.18 / yr | $589K | |
| 13 | Dukes County | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $83K | |
| 14 | Nantucket County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $25K |
14 Massachusetts counties with measurable tornado risk. See the national tornado ranking or all Massachusetts counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Massachusetts county has the highest tornado risk?
Essex County has the highest FEMA tornado risk score in Massachusetts at 92.4 (High), with $9M in expected annual losses and about 0.12 events per year.
How many Massachusetts counties face significant tornado risk?
14 Massachusetts counties record measurable tornado risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 1 of them are rated High or Very High.