States › Massachusetts › Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
Between 1950 and 2026, NCEI recorded 1,140 storm events in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, led by damaging wind.
That is 139.4 events per 100 square miles, below the Massachusetts figure of 210.6, and 7.1 per 10,000 residents against 23.5 statewide.
26 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 2 deaths and 72 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $70M.
FEMA has designated the county in 35 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Hurricane Lee (emergency, 15 Sep 2023).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 3,752 claims since 1978, of which 2,947 were paid, totalling $36M (about $12K per paid claim). FEMA counts 4,000 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively High" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively High" ($322M a year across 18 hazards).
51 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 3 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with Massachusetts and the United States
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 1,140 | 16,427 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 139.4 | 210.6 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 7.1 | 23.5 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 26 | 307 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 2 | 160 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $70M | $1.2B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 5.1 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $12K | $16K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 4.5 | 9.2 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 856 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 226 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 2000 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 3 Oct 1970 | Tornado | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1998 | Lightning | Lightning | — | $70K | — | — | 11 | County |
| 8 Jul 2004 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 6 | County |
| 7 Oct 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 21 Jul 1972 | Tornado | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Lightning | Lightning | — | $200K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 5 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 8 Aug 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 22 Jun 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 21 Aug 2004 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 14 Mar 2010 | Flood | Flood | — | $26M | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 14 Sep 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 8 Jul 1996 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 10 Jul 2010 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $11M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1974 | Tornado | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 Jul 1971 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 2023 | EM-3599 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Lee | Public assistance |
| 27 Mar 2020 | DR-4496 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3438 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 19 Jul 2018 | DR-4379 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Public assistance |
| 13 Apr 2015 | DR-4214 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 19 Apr 2013 | DR-4110 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 17 Apr 2013 | EM-3362 | Emergency | Terrorist | Explosions | Public assistance |
| 28 Oct 2012 | EM-3350 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | Public assistance |
| 6 Jan 2012 | DR-4051 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storm And Snowstorm | Public assistance |
| 1 Nov 2011 | EM-3343 | Emergency | Severe Storm | Severe Storm | Public assistance |
| 26 Aug 2011 | EM-3330 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene | Public assistance |
| 7 Mar 2011 | DR-1959 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Public assistance |
| 2 Sep 2010 | EM-3315 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Earl | Public assistance |
| 3 May 2010 | EM-3312 | Emergency | Other | Water Main Break | Public assistance |
| 29 Mar 2010 | DR-1895 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 5 Jan 2009 | DR-1813 | Major disaster | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 13 Dec 2008 | EM-3296 | Emergency | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 25 May 2006 | DR-1642 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 10 Nov 2005 | DR-1614 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 13 Sep 2005 | EM-3252 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 17 Feb 2005 | EM-3201 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Record And/Or Near Record Snow | Public assistance |
| 21 Apr 2004 | DR-1512 | Major disaster | Flood | Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 15 Jan 2004 | EM-3191 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Snow | Public assistance |
| 11 Mar 2003 | EM-3175 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Snow | Public assistance |
| 10 Apr 2001 | DR-1364 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 28 Mar 2001 | EM-3165 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Snow | Public assistance |
| 23 Jun 1998 | DR-1224 | Major disaster | Flood | Heavy Rains And Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 25 Oct 1996 | DR-1142 | Major disaster | Flood | Extreme Weather Conditons And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 23 Oct 1996 | EM-3119 | Emergency | Flood | Extreme Weather Conditions And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 24 Jan 1996 | DR-1090 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Blizzard Of 96 | Public assistance |
| 16 Mar 1993 | EM-3103 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Blizzards, High Winds & Record Snowfall | Public assistance |
| 21 Dec 1992 | DR-975 | Major disaster | Coastal Storm | Winter Coastal Storm | Public assistance |
| 26 Aug 1991 | DR-914 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Bob | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 18 Apr 1987 | DR-790 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 28 Oct 1985 | DR-751 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Gloria | Public assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | $4,705 | $4,705 |
| 2024 | 26 | 15 | $151,976 | $10,132 |
| 2023 | 56 | 46 | $908,359 | $19,747 |
| 2022 | 5 | 3 | $45,380 | $15,127 |
| 2021 | 38 | 28 | $783,357 | $27,977 |
| 2020 | 5 | 2 | $20,907 | $10,454 |
| 2019 | 6 | 4 | $22,710 | $5,678 |
| 2018 | 11 | 9 | $158,290 | $17,588 |
| 2017 | 24 | 18 | $261,902 | $14,550 |
| 2016 | 8 | 4 | $16,350 | $4,088 |
| 2015 | 14 | 7 | $484,424 | $69,203 |
| 2014 | 54 | 40 | $333,144 | $8,329 |
| 2013 | 10 | 7 | $216,719 | $30,960 |
| 2012 | 22 | 13 | $157,370 | $12,105 |
| 2011 | 40 | 26 | $180,538 | $6,944 |
| 2010 | 658 | 551 | $10,340,017 | $18,766 |
| 2009 | 34 | 31 | $130,507 | $4,210 |
| 2008 | 66 | 63 | $186,254 | $2,956 |
| 2007 | 83 | 76 | $1,368,065 | $18,001 |
| 2006 | 332 | 297 | $7,719,960 | $25,993 |
| 2005 | 90 | 80 | $248,852 | $3,111 |
| 2004 | 94 | 88 | $358,009 | $4,068 |
| 2003 | 12 | 6 | $22,013 | $3,669 |
| 2002 | 4 | 3 | $14,309 | $4,770 |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $224,395,539 | |
| Hurricane | $30,095,131 | |
| Earthquake | $24,253,681 | |
| Cold wave | $9,068,356 | |
| Tornado | $8,972,103 | |
| Heat wave | $8,533,099 | |
| Ice storm | $7,854,210 | |
| Strong wind | $3,387,825 | |
| Lightning | $2,762,481 | |
| Drought | $1,683,077 | |
| Coastal flooding | $417,996 | |
| Wildfire | $268,163 | |
| Winter weather | $146,838 | |
| Hail | $106,995 | |
| Landslide | $2,319 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa | 2021 | 39 mi | 58 mph |
| Henri | 2021 | 75 mi | 63 mph |
| Andrea | 2013 | 51 mi | 46 mph |
| Irene | 2011 | 87 mi | 58 mph |
| Hanna | 2008 | 43 mi | 52 mph |
| Barry | 2007 | 31 mi | 40 mph |
| Hermine | 2004 | 72 mi | 40 mph |
| Floyd | 1999 | 45 mi | 58 mph |
| Bertha | 1996 | 37 mi | 69 mph |
| Bob | 1991 | 75 mi | 104 mph |
| Gloria | 1985 | 82 mi | 86 mph |
| Belle | 1976 | 52 mi | 40 mph |
| Doria | 1971 | 93 mi | 52 mph |
| Alma | 1966 | 57 mi | 46 mph |
| Esther | 1961 | 82 mi | 58 mph |
| Brenda | 1960 | 36 mi | 46 mph |
| Donna | 1960 | 24 mi | 92 mph |
| Cindy | 1959 | 65 mi | 58 mph |
| Carol | 1954 | 43 mi | 115 mph |
| Edna | 1954 | 78 mi | 109 mph |
| Able | 1952 | 79 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1944 | 39 mi | 98 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1934 | 77 mi | 46 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1934 | 39 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1924 | 82 mi | 63 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
- 02474 333
- 01821 284
- 02459 170
- 01854 167
- 01890 163
- 01702 132
- 01864 117
- 01730 116
- 02461 101
- 02176 96
- 01701 91
- 02148 87
- 01880 86
- 02451 78
- 01876 77
- 01851 63
- 01742 62
- 02476 62
- 01863 57
- 02452 57
- 01801 56
- 02155 54
- 01760 53
- 01862 52
- 02468 51
- 01803 50
- 01720 49
- 02420 48
- 02174 46
- 01887 43
- 01778 41
- 02493 37
- 02467 36
- 02478 32
- 02140 29
- 02138 28
- 02154 28
- 01776 27
- 01879 27
- 01746 26
- 01852 26
- 02465 26
- 01721 25
- 01826 24
- 02145 22
- 01824 21
- 02472 21
- 02421 21
- 02453 20
- 01463 19
- 01867 19
- 02149 18
- 01752 18
- 02458 15
- 01469 14
- 01749 14
- 01464 13
- 01886 12
- 02460 12
- 02139 11
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Middlesex County, MA?
NCEI records 183 hail events in Middlesex County since 1950, in 37 different years; that is about 2.4 recorded events a year. 25 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Middlesex County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 21 tornadoes in Middlesex County since 1950, 6 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 1.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Middlesex County?
15 Sep 2023: Hurricane Lee, a emergency declaration for hurricane. The county appears in 35 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Middlesex County, and how much was paid?
3,752 NFIP claims since 1978, 2,947 of them paid, for $36M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Middlesex County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively High" for overall risk, "Relatively High" for expected annual loss, "Very Low" for social vulnerability and "Very High" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Middlesex County compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
139.4 recorded events per 100 square miles against 210.6 statewide, and 2.3 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 5.1. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.