NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Williamstown, 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
24 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Williamstown, Massachusetts since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Isaias in 2020. Since 1950, 29 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 22
- Tornadoes
- 29
- 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 Williamstown
The strongest storm to pass near Williamstown was an unnamed storm in 1938, a Category 1 hurricane with 84 mph winds when its centre passed 10 miles away. The record near Williamstown begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Isaias in 2020, a tropical storm 33 miles away. Of the 24 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities on this site, 99% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Williamstown. The strongest of the 29 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on August 28, 1973; its path came within 21 miles, and it killed 4 people. Of the 29, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 6 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 11. The most recent tornado was on August 29, 2020. Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 78% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Williamstown. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 34 times since 1964, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 346 Massachusetts cities, 80% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Williamstown.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Williamstown
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 28 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 17 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | GloriaSep 27 | 46 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | BelleAug 10 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | Unnamed 1968 stormSep 11 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 30 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | AbleSep 2 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormSep 21 | 10 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormSep 9 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormOct 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 5 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | overhead | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 24 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 24 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 30 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormOct 30 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormSep 28 | 57 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 Williamstown: 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 Williamstown
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s1
- 2000s4
- 1990s11(1 EF3+)
- 1980s2
- 1970s6(1 EF3+)
- 1960s3
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1973 | F4 | 21 mi | 9.8 mi | 4 / 36 |
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | 17 mi | 30.5 mi | 0 / 68 |
| May 31, 1998 | F2 | 16 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1997 | F2 | 22 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 13, 1975 | F2 | 15 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1973 | F2 | 21 mi | 2.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 1, 1966 | F2 | 5 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 22, 1955 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 29, 2020 | EF1 | 22 mi | 2.17 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 2014 | EF1 | 17 mi | 0.25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 8 mi | 25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 19 mi | 4.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 29, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Williamstown
The Storm Prediction Center has 34 hail reports within 10 miles of Williamstown since 1964, made on 23 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently June 1, 2011. The most recent report is from June 23, 2024. June has the most reports, 15.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Williamstown
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is North Adams Harriman Airport, MA, 3 miles east of Williamstown 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 24 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (10); 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%). Petersburg, NY, 9 miles northwest, has its own station (Grafton, NY): 47.1 inches a year, 4.8 more than here, and a July average high of 78°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 Williamstown
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 139 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Williamstown: 109 thunderstorm wind reports, 16 flash floods, 10 floods and 4 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $2.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on September 9, 2007. May has had the most flash floods, 6 of 16. Of the 339 Massachusetts cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 138 have had fewer than Williamstown.
July 10, 2023: flood 5 miles from the centre of Williamstown — $1.5 million damage.
August 7, 2008: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Williamstown — $200,000 damage.
NWS: “Lightning struck a barn at the Bonnie Lea Farm in Williamstown at approximately 1630 LST. No injuries were reported.”
September 9, 2007: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Williamstown — $180,000 damage.
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 Williamstown's ZIP code 01267 have filed 25 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $149,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Irene in 2011: 10 claims (40% of all) and $74,000. 44% 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, 74 have fewer than Williamstown.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irene2011 | 10 | $74,000 |
Berkshire County, which includes Williamstown, 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 Williamstown
- Pownal, VT6 mi
- North Adams, MA6 mi
- Adams, MA7 mi
- Petersburg, NY9 mi
- Lanesboro, MA9 mi
- Cheshire, MA10 mi
- Bennington, VT13 mi
- Hoosick Falls, NY15 mi
- Dalton, MA16 mi
- Pittsfield, MA16 mi
- Averill Park, NY16 mi
- North Bennington, VT17 mi
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