How Likely Is a Tornado in Barnstable County, MA?
Barnstable County's tornado history, by the numbers
Barnstable County has recorded 8 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 9.5 years - our Low band. Put another way: Barnstable County sees more tornado activity than 25% of US counties. Among 14 Massachusetts counties in this dataset, Barnstable County ranks 11 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
8 weak and 0 significant tornadoes make up Barnstable County's 8-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Barnstable County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Massachusetts has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Massachusetts this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
A direct hit is not required for Barnstable County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Massachusetts regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Barnstable County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 394 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Barnstable County has about 232,570 residents.