Acton, MA Tornado History — 58 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Acton, MA had?
Acton has had 58 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Acton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Acton was an EF0 on September 6, 2025.
When is tornado season in Acton?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Acton, with 21 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Acton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 13 total, averaging 0.7 per year over this window.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Acton
96 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Acton since 1950, across 3 events. 1,262 injuries have been reported across all events. 1953 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on June 9, 1953, which caused 94 fatalities along a 34.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Acton
About Tornadoes in Acton
This overview was written July 24, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Acton sits in the wooded MetroWest region of eastern Massachusetts, among the low hills and small rivers northwest of Boston. New England is not a major tornado region, but southern New England does record tornadoes in most years, and this part of the state has experienced them over the decades.
Tornadoes here are chiefly a summer occurrence. On humid days, strong daytime heating can destabilize the atmosphere, and when a disturbance aloft provides wind shear, thunderstorms can grow tall and occasionally rotate. The area's inland setting allows heat and humidity to build on hot afternoons, away from the moderating sea breeze of the coast. Because such events are infrequent, they can catch residents off guard, which is why heeding severe-weather watches and warnings matters even here.
Tornado intensity is graded on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, running from EF0 to EF5 according to surveyed damage rather than a measured wind speed. The vast majority of the region's tornadoes are weak, with strong ones being rare. The tornado history for the Acton area — counts, the decade and rating breakdowns, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — comes from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center and appears in the figures elsewhere on this page.