VORTEX
TORNADO HISTORY
← All Cities

Arlington, MA Tornado History — 46 Tornadoes Since 1950

Massachusetts · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Arlington, MA had?

Arlington has had 46 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Arlington?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Arlington was an EF0 on September 6, 2025.

When is tornado season in Arlington?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Arlington, with 14 on record. April through June account for 10 of the 46 tornadoes on record near Arlington.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
46
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
4
8.7% of total
Peak Month
July
14 on record
Per Year Avg
0.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Arlington

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 11 total, averaging 0.6 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 0
2023 3
2022 0
2021 3
2020 1
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 1
2015 0
2014 1
2013 1
2012 0
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Arlington

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Arlington and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on September 6, 2025 and the most recent on September 6, 2025. It is already counted in the Arlington totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF1° September 6, 2025
3 E Bolton, Middlesex County, MA
AN EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN STOW... MA NEAR MAPLE STREET AND CONTINUED ENE OVER BOSE AVENUE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE. THE TORNADO LIFTED SOMEWHERE NEAR HARVES (BOX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 11
1960s 8
1970s 8
1980s 6
1990s 2
2010s 3
2020s 8

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.

EF0 13
EF1 20
EF2 9
EF3 3
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 0
May 5
Jun 5
Jul 14
Aug 12
Sep 4
Oct 3
Nov 2
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Arlington

96 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Arlington since 1950, across 3 events. 1,264 injuries have been reported across all events. 1953 was the deadliest year on record near Arlington.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on June 9, 1953, which caused 94 fatalities along a 34.9-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Arlington

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on June 9, 1953 — 94 fatalities, 34.9 mi path, 900 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on June 9, 1953 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F4 on June 9, 1953 — 900 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on October 3, 1970 — 35.4 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on September 6, 2025.

What the record shows near Arlington

The 1950s were the busiest decade near Arlington, with 11 of the 46 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 8 so far. The Arlington record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Arlington, 33 reached EF0 or EF1 and 13 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Arlington is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Arlington has averaged 0.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 11 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 3, and 13 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Arlington, MA had?
Since 1950, 46 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Arlington. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Arlington?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Arlington was an F4 on June 9, 1953, which caused 94 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Arlington?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Arlington, with 14 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Arlington been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Arlington, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Arlington?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Arlington was an EF0 on September 6, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Arlington?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

More Cities in Massachusetts