NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit North Adams, 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
27 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of North Adams, Massachusetts since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 33 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 25
- Tornadoes
- 33
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for North Adams
The strongest storm to pass near North Adams was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 1 hurricane with 84 mph winds when its centre passed 4 miles away. The record near North Adams begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 39 miles away. Of the 27 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site, 99% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than North Adams. The strongest of the 33 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on August 28, 1973; its path came within 25 miles, and it killed 4 people. Of the 33, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 7 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 12. The most recent tornado was on February 25, 2017. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 72% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than North Adams. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 36 times since 1964, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 76% have more hail reports within 10 miles than North Adams.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near North Adams
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 41 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 15 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | AbleSep 2 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 4 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormOct 1 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | overhead | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in North Adams: 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 North Adams
By decade
- 2010s3
- 2000s4
- 1990s9(1 EF3+)
- 1980s3
- 1970s7(1 EF3+)
- 1960s4
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1973 | F4 | 25 mi | 9.8 mi | 4 / 36 |
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | 17 mi | 30.5 mi | 0 / 68 |
| May 31, 1998 | F2 | 22 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 13, 1975 | F2 | 15 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1973 | F2 | 25 mi | 2.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 1, 1966 | F2 | 4 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 22, 1955 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 25, 2017 | EF1 | 23 mi | 4.64 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 25, 2017 | EF1 | 23 mi | 2.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 2014 | EF1 | 17 mi | 0.25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 25 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 11 mi | 25 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 33, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in North Adams
The Storm Prediction Center has 36 hail reports within 10 miles of North Adams since 1964, made on 27 separate days. Of these, 17 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 3 days, most recently June 1, 2011. The most recent report is from June 23, 2024. June has the most reports, 14.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in North Adams
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is North Adams Harriman Airport, MA, 4 miles west of North Adams at 654 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 81°F and low of 58°F; January is the coolest, at 32°F and 14°F. August is the wettest at 4.5 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.0 inches; the year adds up to 42.3 inches over 83 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 59% of the year's precipitation (24.8 of 42.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 27 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal September there has highs of 72°F and 4.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 4 days a year, almost all from June to July. Lows fall below freezing on about 149 nights a year. That 42.3 inches is more than at 3 of the 65 Massachusetts stations used on this site (5%). Lanesboro, 12 miles southwest, has its own station (Pittsfield Municipal Airport, MA): 44.3 inches a year, 2.0 more than here, and a July average high of 79°F against 81°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32 | 14 | 2.5 | 5 |
| Feb | 35 | 16 | 2.0 | 5 |
| Mar | 44 | 24 | 3.1 | 7 |
| Apr | 57 | 34 | 3.1 | 7 |
| May | 69 | 44 | 3.7 | 8 |
| Jun | 76 | 53 | 4.4 | 9 |
| Jul | 81 | 58 | 4.1 | 8 |
| Aug | 79 | 56 | 4.5 | 7 |
| Sep | 72 | 49 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Oct | 60 | 38 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Nov | 48 | 30 | 3.3 | 6 |
| Dec | 38 | 22 | 3.1 | 7 |
| Year | 58 | 36 | 42.3 | 83 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at North Adams Harriman Airport, MA (654 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 North Adams
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 137 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of North Adams: 104 thunderstorm wind reports, 19 flash floods, 10 floods and 4 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $2.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on September 9, 2007. Of the 339 Massachusetts cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 170 have had fewer than North Adams.
July 10, 2023: flood 2 miles from the centre of North Adams — $1.5 million damage.
NWS: “Heavy rainfall caused flooding of roads, homes and other crucial pieces of infrastructure throughout the City of North Adams. City Mayor Jennifer Macksey reported approximately 10 to 15 roads washed out with debris coming down the mountainside.”
August 7, 2008: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of North Adams — $200,000 damage.
September 9, 2007: thunderstorm wind in North Adams — $180,000 damage.
NWS: “A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team found straight line wind damage in North Adams. Significant roof damage occurred to three college dormitories, mostly from tin flashing that was torn off due to the strong winds.”
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 North Adams's ZIP code 01247 have filed 20 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $333,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 50% 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, 63 have fewer than North Adams.
Berkshire County, which includes North Adams, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1985, 11 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 snowstorms, 6 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 27, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Berkshire County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for tornadoes and hail; Very Low for heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $51.8 million a year, the 10th highest of 14 Massachusetts counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $41.4 million (80%), 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.
Cities near North Adams
- Adams, MA5 mi
- Williamstown, MA6 mi
- Pownal, VT8 mi
- Cheshire, MA10 mi
- Lanesboro, MA12 mi
- Bennington, VT13 mi
- Petersburg, NY14 mi
- Dalton, MA15 mi
- Wilmington, VT18 mi
- Hinsdale, MA18 mi
- North Bennington, VT18 mi
- Pittsfield, MA18 mi
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