Charlestown, MA Tornado History — 43 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Charlestown, MA had?
Charlestown has had 43 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Charlestown?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Charlestown was an EF0 on September 6, 2025.
When is tornado season in Charlestown?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Charlestown, 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 Charlestown
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 9 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 Charlestown
95 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Charlestown 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 Charlestown
About Tornadoes in Charlestown
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.
Charlestown is one of Boston's oldest neighborhoods, set on a peninsula between the Mystic and Charles rivers on the eastern Massachusetts coast. This corner of New England lies well outside the country's most active tornado regions, yet it is not immune: southern New England experiences tornadoes in most years, and its history includes a handful of powerful ones.
The tornadoes that reach this part of the coast are typically a warm-season event. On humid summer days, strong heating can destabilize the atmosphere, and when a disturbance aloft adds wind shear, thunderstorms can rotate and occasionally produce tornadoes. The relative rarity of these events, combined with the dense urban setting and nearby water, means they are not a routine hazard the way they are on the plains — but they do occur, and warnings deserve attention when they are issued.
Tornado strength is described on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which runs from EF0 to EF5 according to surveyed damage rather than a direct wind measurement. Most New England tornadoes are weak, with strong ones being rare. For the specific record near Charlestown — the total on file, the breakdown by decade and rating, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — see the figures compiled from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center elsewhere on this page.