With recent events such as the June 1, 2011 tornado, many residents of New England have become more aware of a not so unfamiliar force of nature. Although the New England states are not prone to tornadoes, we have had several violent, deadly, and destructive tornadoes throughout our history.
Background summary
One of the earliest known violent tornadoes to ever strike New England was the Wallingford, Connecticut tornado which struck in early August of 1878. This tornado was responsible for over 30 deaths and was estimated at between F4 and F5 in intensity. Nearly a decade later in late July a small tornado estimated at F3 intensity struck the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts, killing 8 people and leveling dozens of homes. The largest, deadliest, and most intense tornado destroyed sections of Central Massachusetts, including the city of Worcester on June 9, 1953. 94 people were left dead with over 1,000 injured. Although the tornado stands officially at F4 intensity, many consider the damage to be consistent with an F5, as several homes were completely swept away with no debris remaining at their sites. Exactly 20 years later New England's next violent tornado struck the town of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, were it killed 4 people and injured another 36. A large truck stop was leveled by the tornado, where 3 people were killed. Some homes in the tornadoes path were completely destroyed, 1 of which was swept completely from its foundation and strewn in large piles for several hundred feet. Damage was rated at F4, with winds estimated at 250 miles per hour. On July 10, 1989 New England was struck by a series of tornadoes, one of which was a violent F4 that struck Hamden, Connecticut. Fortunately no one was killed, though dozens of homes were "flattened." New England's last violent tornado to be rated on the Fujita scale (Not to be confused with the Enhanced Fujita scale) was the tornado which struck Great Barrington on Memorial Day of 1995. A car containing 3 people was lifted several hundred feet into the air, landing with enough force to kill the occupants. Along with several homes, the local fairgrounds which held horse races was destroyed.
