Massachusetts
Boston gets buried by nor'easters that arrive with the reliability of a commuter train. Cape Cod faces hurricanes. The Springfield tornado proved the state is not immune to twisters. And the 1938 hurricane still haunts the coastline. Massachusetts packs a lot of weather into a small state.
Enter your Massachusetts ZIP for live alerts, forecasts, and county-specific data.
Know your region
Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, Lowell, the 128 corridor. The 2015 winter dropped 110 inches of snow. Coastal flooding from nor'easters pushes water into East Boston and the waterfront. The urban heat island makes summers increasingly dangerous for residents without AC.
Primary hazards: nor'easters, coastal flooding, heat, severe storms
Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, the South Shore. Direct hurricane exposure from the Atlantic. The 1938 hurricane and Hurricane Bob (1991) caused major damage. Coastal erosion is accelerating. Storm surge threatens low-lying communities.
Primary hazards: hurricanes, coastal erosion, nor'easters, flooding
Springfield, Northampton, the Pioneer Valley, the Berkshires. The 2011 Springfield tornado (EF3) killed 3 and destroyed parts of the city. The Connecticut River floods regularly. Heavy snow accumulates in the Berkshire hills.
Primary hazards: tornadoes, flooding, winter storms, severe storms
Your hazard profile
Each links to a full guide with during-event protocol, recovery steps, and resources specific to MA.
The 2015 winter dropped 110 inches on Boston. Nor'easters bring blizzard conditions, coastal flooding, and power outages. Ice storms damage the extensive tree canopy. Cape Cod gets hammered by coastal erosion during every major storm.
Read the nor'easters and blizzards guide →
The 1938 hurricane killed hundreds across New England. Hurricane Bob (1991) caused major damage to Cape Cod and the Islands. Storm surge threatens low-lying coastal communities. Tropical remnants bring flooding rain.
Read the hurricanes guide →
Coastal flooding from nor'easters and king tides is increasing. The Merrimack and Connecticut rivers flood during heavy rain. Boston's aging storm sewers cannot handle intense rain events.
Read the flooding guide →
The 2011 Springfield tornado (EF3) killed 3 and destroyed parts of the city. Massachusetts is not immune to tornadoes. Microbursts topple trees onto power lines with little warning.
Read the severe storms and tornadoes guide →
Boston's urban heat island amplifies summer temperatures. Many older buildings lack air conditioning. Heat is the deadliest weather hazard in most years for the elderly and those without cooling.
Read the urban heat guide →
Massachusetts resources
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Coordinates disaster response and runs the state's public alert system.
Eastern Massachusetts forecasts. Nor'easter tracking, coastal flood advisories, winter storm warnings, and severe weather alerts.
Coastal flooding data, sea-level rise projections, StormSmart Coasts program, and shoreline change maps.
Statewide referral service. Energy assistance (LIHEAP), food banks, shelter locations, and disaster recovery resources.
The winter of 2015
Between January and March 2015, Boston received 110.6 inches of snow, the snowiest period in the city's recorded history. The MBTA shut down entirely. Roofs collapsed. Streets narrowed to single lanes between snow walls. The city did not fully dig out until spring.
The 2015 winter was not one storm. It was a relentless series of nor'easters that hit before the previous snow could melt. The accumulation overwhelmed plowing capacity, transit systems, and patience. Flat roofs on older buildings failed under the snow load.
For every Massachusetts household, winter preparation means a week of supplies, a backup heat source, a plan for getting to work when the T shuts down, and the understanding that a single nor'easter is manageable but three in three weeks changes the math entirely.