Amesbury, MA Tornado History — 29 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Amesbury, MA had?
Amesbury has had 29 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Amesbury?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Amesbury was a F2 on May 21, 2006.
When is tornado season in Amesbury?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Amesbury, with 8 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
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
Have any tornadoes near Amesbury been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Amesbury from any of the 29 tornadoes since 1950, though 15 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Amesbury
About Tornadoes in Amesbury
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
According to data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 27 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Amesbury, Massachusetts since 1950. This northeastern coastal community has experienced tornado activity primarily during the mid-20th century, with 10 events documented in both the 1950s and 1960s. Activity declined sharply thereafter, dropping to four tornadoes in the 1970s and just one per decade from the 1980s through the 2000s.
The intensity distribution shows that most tornadoes in the area have been relatively weak, with 12 rated EF1 and four rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado damage from EF0 (minor) to EF5 (strongest). However, the region has also seen nine EF2 tornadoes and two EF3 events, indicating that stronger tornadoes capable of considerable damage have occurred. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities, though several caused property damage.
July has been the most active month for tornado formation near Amesbury, accounting for seven of the 27 recorded events. This aligns with general patterns in the Northeast, where summer thunderstorm activity can occasionally produce tornadoes when atmospheric conditions favor rotating updrafts. The costliest tornado struck on August 15, 1991, an F1-rated event that caused $275,000 in property damage along a 0.8-mile path with a maximum width of 300 yards. The widest tornado, rated F2 with a 400-yard width, occurred on July 2, 1961, traveling 5.1 miles and causing $275,000 in damage.
The longest-tracked tornado near Amesbury carved a 9.3-mile path on August 21, 1951, rated F2 with a relatively narrow 100-yard width and causing $2,750 in damage. The most recent tornado on record occurred on May 21, 2006, an F2-rated event with a brief 0.1-mile path and 20-yard width that produced no reported property damage.