NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit East Boston, MA
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
47 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of East Boston, Massachusetts since 1851, 10 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 43 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 10
- Tropical storms
- 37
- Tornadoes
- 43
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for East Boston
The strongest storm to pass near East Boston was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 2 hurricane with 104 mph winds when its centre passed 37 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1869, whose centre came within 12 miles. The record near East Boston begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 19 miles away. The 1870s and the 1960s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 47 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site, 51% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than East Boston. The highest rating among the 43 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on September 29, 1974, came within 19 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on August 9, 1972, killed 1 person. Of the 43, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 9 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 14. The most recent tornado was on September 6, 2025. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 56% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than East Boston. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 75 times since 1956, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). East Boston has more hail reports within 10 miles than 79% of the 346 Massachusetts cities.
Compare East Boston's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near East Boston
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 9 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 8 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 7 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 4 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | HermineAug 31 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 14 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1991 | BobAug 19 | 16 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 62 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 14 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1961 | EstherSep 26 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 11 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | EdnaSep 11 | 58 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1954 | CarolAug 31 | 30 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 15 | 18 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 20 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 19 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 21 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 17 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormMay 31 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 30 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 15 | 44 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 17 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 24 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 10 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 10 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 25 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 12 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 23 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 19 | 58 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 5 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 27 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormOct 4 | 37 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 8 | 12 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 3 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 16 | 24 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormOct 19 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in East Boston: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of East Boston
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s3
- 1990s2
- 1980s7
- 1970s8(1 EF3+)
- 1960s7
- 1950s10(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 1974 | F3 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 9, 1953 | F3 | 24 mi | 28 mi | 0 / 17 |
| Jul 28, 2014 | EF2 | 1 mi | 1.93 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jul 21, 1972 | F2 | 21 mi | 7.6 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Aug 25, 1958 | F2 | 11 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 11, 1958 | F2 | 16 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1956 | F2 | 16 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | F2 | 23 mi | 9.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 1972 | F1 | 8 mi | 4.9 mi | 1 / 6 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF1 | 14 mi | 0.35 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 2023 | EF1 | 24 mi | 0.16 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 22, 2016 | EF1 | 17 mi | 0.85 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 43, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in East Boston
The Storm Prediction Center has 75 hail reports within 10 miles of East Boston since 1956, made on 39 separate days. Of these, 38 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on August 4, 2015. The most recent report is from August 23, 2020. July has the most reports, 25.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in East Boston
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Boston Logan International Airport, MA, 1 mile southeast of East Boston at 12 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 82°F and low of 66°F; January is the coolest, at 37°F and 23°F. December is the wettest at 4.3 inches of precipitation on average and February and August the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 43.7 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (21.7 of 43.7 inches). September has brought the most of the 47 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 73°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 14 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 92 nights a year. Snowfall averages 49.2 inches a year, most of it in February. That 43.7 inches is more than at 8 of the 65 Massachusetts stations used on this site (12%). Cambridge, 4 miles west, has its own station (Jamaica Plain, MA): 49.4 inches a year, 5.7 more than here, and a July average high of 85°F against 82°F.
Sea level at the Boston tide gauge, 2 miles from East Boston, has risen 1.17 ± 0.03 inches per decade from 1921 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 11.7 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 68 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37 | 23 | 3.4 | 7 | 14.3 |
| Feb | 39 | 25 | 3.2 | 6 | 14.4 |
| Mar | 46 | 31 | 4.2 | 7 | 9.0 |
| Apr | 56 | 41 | 3.6 | 7 | 1.6 |
| May | 67 | 50 | 3.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 76 | 60 | 3.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 82 | 66 | 3.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 80 | 65 | 3.2 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 73 | 58 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 62 | 48 | 4.0 | 6 | 0.2 |
| Nov | 52 | 38 | 3.7 | 6 | 0.7 |
| Dec | 42 | 29 | 4.3 | 7 | 9.0 |
| Year | 59 | 44 | 43.7 | 77 | 49.2 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Boston Logan International Airport, MA (12 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near East Boston
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 520 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of East Boston: 312 thunderstorm wind reports, 125 floods, 55 flash floods and 28 lightning strikes. They killed 2 people and injured 26, and the NWS estimated $41.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 104 mph, on June 22, 1997. July has had the most flash floods, 36 of 55. Of the 339 Massachusetts cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 311 have had fewer than East Boston.
June 22, 1997: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of East Boston — 1 killed.
August 5, 2010: lightning strike 3 miles from the centre of East Boston — 1 killed.
July 20, 2008: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of East Boston — 10 injured.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Flood insurance policyholders in East Boston's ZIP code 02128 have filed 38 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $141,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 45% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 229 Massachusetts cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 112 have fewer than East Boston.
Suffolk County, which includes East Boston, has been named in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 23 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 snowstorms, 8 hurricanes, 7 severe storms, 6 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, on April 18, 2022. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Suffolk County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for lightning; Relatively High for hurricanes, inland flooding, coastal flooding and heat waves; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $114.9 million a year, the 5th highest of 14 Massachusetts counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $59.5 million (52%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.