Back Bay, MA Tornado History — 44 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Back Bay, MA had?
Back Bay has had 44 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Back Bay?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Back Bay was an EF0 on September 6, 2025.
When is tornado season in Back Bay?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Back Bay, with 14 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 Back Bay
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 10 total, averaging 0.5 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 Back Bay
95 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Back Bay since 1950, across 2 events. 1,263 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 Back Bay
About Tornadoes in Back Bay
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.
Back Bay is a historic, densely built neighborhood at the heart of Boston, laid out on filled land along the Charles River on the eastern Massachusetts coast. New England is far from the country's tornado hotspots, yet southern New England records tornadoes in most years, and its longer history includes rare, destructive ones.
Tornadoes near the Massachusetts coast are chiefly a summer phenomenon. On humid days, strong daytime heating can destabilize the atmosphere, and when a disturbance aloft provides wind shear, thunderstorms can build and, occasionally, rotate. The immediate coast and its sea breeze can locally influence where storms develop. Because tornadoes are uncommon in this dense urban setting, warnings deserve attention when they are issued.
Tornado intensity is measured on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which grades a tornado from EF0 to EF5 based on surveyed damage rather than a measured wind speed. The great majority of New England tornadoes are weak, with violent ones rare. The tornado history for the Back Bay area — counts, the decade and rating breakdowns, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — is drawn from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center and shown in the figures elsewhere on this page.