Barnstable, MA Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Barnstable, MA had?
Barnstable has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Barnstable?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Barnstable was an EF0 on August 8, 2023.
When is tornado season in Barnstable?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Barnstable, with 4 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 Barnstable
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 total, averaging 0.3 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
Have any tornadoes near Barnstable been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Barnstable from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950, though 2 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Barnstable
About Tornadoes in Barnstable
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.
Barnstable, Massachusetts has experienced 9 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. All of these tornadoes have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage to structures and vegetation. The distribution includes 4 EF0 tornadoes and 5 EF1 tornadoes, with no fatalities recorded in any of these events.
Tornado activity in the Barnstable area has been notably concentrated in recent years. While the 1960s and 1970s each saw only a single tornado, the 2010s recorded 5 tornadoes, representing more than half of the city's historical total. An additional 2 tornadoes have occurred in the 2020s through the present. July stands out as the peak month for tornado activity, accounting for 4 of the 9 recorded events, which aligns with the summer season when atmospheric conditions in coastal New England can occasionally support rotating thunderstorms.
The costliest tornado on record struck on July 23, 2019, an EF1-rated storm that caused $3.6 million in property damage along a 2.8-mile path with a maximum width of 250 yards. That same date also produced the longest-tracked tornado in the area's history, an EF1 that traveled 5.5 miles and caused $1.2 million in damage. More recently, on August 8, 2023, an EF0 tornado became both the widest and most recent event on record, reaching a maximum width of 650 yards while traveling 1.2 miles and causing minimal damage of approximately $2,000.
The relatively low intensity of tornadoes in the Barnstable area reflects the typical pattern for coastal Massachusetts, where tornadoes tend to be weaker and shorter-lived than those in the central United States. The Enhanced Fujita scale ranges from EF0 (winds 65-85 mph) to EF5 (winds over 200 mph), and the absence of ratings above EF1 in this region is consistent with the less favorable environmental conditions for strong tornado development in New England's maritime climate.