Lowell, Massachusetts tornadoes

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12confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lowell since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: July 5, 1984, F1.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

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Recent warnings near Lowell

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The record

At a glance

Total12within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.2average since 1950
Peak monthJuly6 of 12
StrongestF3Sep 29, 1974
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries6whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Lowell.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

60 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 0May: 1Jun: 2Jul: 6Aug: 1Sep: 1Oct: 1Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July is the peak month, with 6 of 12 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 1: 2: 23 PM: 5: 1: 06 PM: 1: 0: 09 PM: 0: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 1: 1: 01960: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 1: 2: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
2
EF1
6
EF2
3
EF3
1

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Every tornado

All 12 tornadoes, newest first

Tornadoes, newest first
DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jul 5, 1984F10.1 mi10 yd00
Sep 29, 1974F30.1 mi33 yd01
Jul 21, 1972F27.6 mi37 yd04
Jul 19, 1972F10.9 mi40 yd00
Jul 1, 1971F125.2 mi10 yd01
Aug 28, 1965F22 mi10 yd00
May 19, 1964F00.1 mi300 yd00
Jul 13, 1960F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jul 11, 1958F21.5 mi17 yd00
Jun 19, 1957F10.5 mi100 yd00
Jun 13, 1956F11 mi10 yd00
Oct 24, 1955F10.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Lowell and its county

Lowell is in Middlesex County, where NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.