Tornado History
Essex Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Essex, Massachusetts. The records below identify 12 tornadoes from 1951 through 1991, including a highest listed rating of F2 (Considerable damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $563K, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Essex, Massachusetts
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.3 tornadoes per year (0.0/yr in last decade)
July is the peak tornado month with 4 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F2 in Essex, Massachusetts with 0 deaths
1956 was the most active year with 3 tornadoes
The 1960s had the most tornado activity (6 events)
Longest tornado: 9.3 miles in Essex, Massachusetts
Widest tornado: 300.0 yards in Essex, Massachusetts
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on May 19, 1964
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Essex, Massachusetts, July is the most active month with 4 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1956 was the most active year with 3 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1968 with at least $250K in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Essex, Massachusetts.
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Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 21, 1956 | F2 | Essex, Massachusetts | 0.8 mi | 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| August 21, 1951 | F2 | Essex, Massachusetts | 9.3 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| July 1, 1968 | F1 | Essex, Massachusetts | 0.3 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K |
| August 15, 1991 | F1 | Essex, Massachusetts | 0.8 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| July 21, 1962 | F1 | Essex, Massachusetts | 2.7 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 3 | $25K |
| June 13, 1956 | F1 | Essex, Massachusetts | 1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| May 19, 1964 | F1 | Essex, Massachusetts | 2 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| July 21, 1972 | F1 | Essex, Massachusetts | 0.3 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| December 18, 1956 | F1 | Essex, Massachusetts | 0.5 mi | 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 |
| August 10, 1965 | F1 | Essex, Massachusetts | 3.6 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| May 19, 1964 | F0 | Essex, Massachusetts | 0.1 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| July 13, 1960 | F0 | Essex, Massachusetts | 0.1 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 |
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Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.