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Essex County, Massachusetts
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1951 and 2025, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
12
Tornado reports
98
Hail reports
137
Floods since 1996
663
All events
7
Deaths
$50.4M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Essex County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 12 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Two women were struck by lightning while walking towards the parking lot from the beach at Crane's Beach in Ipswich. One was a 61 year old woman from Connecticut, the other a 69 year old woman from Massachusetts. Both went into cardiac arrest and were given CPR before being trans…
Several small streams rose above flood stage across Essex County, including the Ipswich River at Ipswich and South Middleton, the Shawsheen River at Andover, and the Parker River at Byfield. This river flooding, coupled with heavy rain and poor drainage flooding, resulted in a fe…
A Methuen couple hiking in a park, took shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. They were struck by lightning. The couple was transferred to a local hospital where the husband was declared dead.
Three to seven inches of rain fell across Essex County resulting in several rivers going into minor flood, including the Spicket River at Methuen and the Merrimack River at Lawrence and at Haverhill. In addition, several small streams rose above flood stage across Essex County, i…
Numerous streets were closed due to flooding. In addition, numerous vehicles were reported stuck in water on roads throughout Peabody; occupants had to be rescued and vehicles towed. Parts of Route 128 were impassable due to flooding. The Peabody police station was flooded, damag…
Numerous streets were closed due to flooding. Approximately 500 houses experienced some sort of flooding, 100 of these houses had to have the electricity cut off to prevent further problems related to basement flooding. Water levels in houses were reported to be between 4 and 9 f…
Local police reported numerous trees blown down. At the Beverly Airport, a wind gust to an estimated 70 to 75 mph occurred during a severe thunderstorm, flipping over several light aircraft and damaging a total of 14 aircraft. Five were damaged beyond repair.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Salem, a tree was down partially on a house. Another tree was down on a vehicle on Congress St.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Salem, a tree and wires were down on a car.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In Topsfield, there was significant basement flooding to a residence on Woodside Rd. Inundation reportedly approached the height of the electrical panel of the home.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
There were cars stuck in significant street flooding near the Lawrence and Andover town line.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Ipswich, a tree was down on County Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Middletown a tree and wires were down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There was a tree down blocking the road near Linebrook and Haverhill Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Andover there was a tree down blocking part of a road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Beverly there were several trees down across town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Methuen, a large tree was down on power lines on Horne St.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Andover, there were tree limbs down on wires on Rt 28.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Merrimac, a large tree was down on Lane Ten Acres Rd at Bear Hill Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Methuen, there were trees down at Blackberry Ln and Observatory Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Boxford, there were trees and wires down on several streets.
Hail Hail
In Andover, there was 1 inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Peabody, there were a tree and wires down on Hamilton Rd and a tree on a vehicle on Lexington Ave.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Boxford, numerous trees and wires were down on various streets with one tree down on the roof of the fire station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Rowley, there were trees down on several streets.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In Andover, a portion of Main St was flooded.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In Andover, stores in Shawsheen Plaza flooded.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In West Newbury, there was significant street flooding across the town.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In North Andover, a senior housing center on Main St was underwater leading to the evacuation of 150 residents.
Flood Flood
In North Andover, there were flooded vehicles stuck on Massachusetts Ave under the I-495 overpass. High St in Andover was under several feet of water.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In Lynn, several streets flooded including Marion St, Boston at Bridge St, and Commercial St at Lynnway.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Salisbury, a tree and wires were down on a car near Elm Street (Route 110).
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In Lynnfield, Durham Dr near Grey Ln had a car stuck in street flooding.
Flood Flood
In Salem, Pearl St bridge was closed due to flooding.
Lightning Lightning
In Lawrence at 511 PM EDT (411 PM EST), a house was struck by lightning, causing damage to the electrical system.
Flood Flood
In Lawrence, police reported street flooding on Andover Street between Clifron and Amherst Streets. The road was flooded and impassable. Report relayed by amateur radio.
Lightning Lightning
In Beverly, lightning caused a house fire on Boyles Street.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Lynn, a tree was down on power lines on the 100 block of Wyman Street. Also, a tree was down on power lines on Clairmont Street.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Danvers between 736 PM EDT and 743 PM EDT, winds were estimated at 60 mph by an amateur radio spotter. A tree was down on Holten Street. A large limb and wires were down on Collins Street. A large limb was down on wires on Webb Street. A large limb was down on Garden Street. W…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Swampscott, a tree fell into a house. Street unspecified.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Peabody, a tree was down on a truck on Norfolk Avenue. A tree was down on power lines at both Lynnfield Street and Columbia Blvd. A tree was down on Bartlett Street.
Lightning Lightning
In Danvers, lightning struck a house, causing an attic fire.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Wenham, tree limbs and wires were down on Main Street (Route 1A) at the North Beverly line.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Andover, trees were down at Shawsheen Square and also on High Street.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Peabody, a tree was down on a car on Endicott Street. Also, a tree and wires were down on Lincoln Street.
Flood Flood
In Salisbury, there was a public report via MPING - unspecified location -- of a river/creek overflowing with cropland/yard/basement flooding.
Flood Flood
In Peabody, Prospect Street at Lowell Street was flooded. Also, there was flooding on I-95 southward to Route 1.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 |
| 2021 | 34 | 0 |
| 2020 | 31 | 0 |
| 2019 | 24 | 0 |
| 2018 | 35 | 0 |
| 2017 | 34 | 0 |
| 2016 | 22 | 0 |
| 2015 | 23 | 0 |
| 2014 | 37 | 0 |
| 2013 | 14 | 0 |
| 2012 | 22 | 0 |
| 2011 | 31 | 0 |
| 2010 | 32 | 0 |
| 2009 | 6 | 0 |
| 2008 | 37 | 0 |
| 2007 | 38 | 0 |
| 2006 | 17 | 0 |
| 2005 | 17 | 0 |
| 2004 | 7 | 0 |
| 2003 | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 | 6 | 0 |
| 2001 | 12 | 0 |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 | 12 | 0 |
| 1998 | 19 | 0 |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | 8 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 1 |
| 1989 | 8 | 0 |
| 1988 | 10 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 8 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 1 |
| 1971 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 4 | 1 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 7 | 1 |
| 1964 | 3 | 2 |
| 1962 | 2 | 1 |
| 1961 | 3 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 6 | 3 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Essex County, measured to its path.
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