How Likely Is a Tornado in Suffolk County, MA?
Suffolk County, MA: what NOAA's tornado record says
Suffolk County has recorded 1 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 76.9 years - our Minimal band. Put another way: Suffolk County sees more tornado activity than 7% of US counties. Among 14 Massachusetts counties in this dataset, Suffolk County ranks 13 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
0 weak and 1 significant tornadoes make up Suffolk County's 1-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Suffolk 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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 58 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. Suffolk County has about 793,144 residents.