Maine experiences relatively infrequent severe weather compared to the central United States, with 140 confirmed tornadoes, 1,214 hailstorm events and 2,967 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950. The state ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, and averages 1.9 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Maine’s severe-weather record is dominated by winter storms, nor’easters and infrequent but occasionally damaging summer tornadoes. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Maine from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
Maine Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 140 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 19 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 1 direct tornado deaths and 20 direct injuries
- 1,214 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 2,967 damaging-wind events on record
- 1.9 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- July is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 38.6% of Maine tornadoes
- 36 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Maine Severe Weather Happens
Maine tornado activity is most concentrated in July, which accounts for about 38.6% of all recorded events. The state’s overall severe-weather season is more spread out across the year than in the central United States.
- July: 54 tornadoes (38.6%) — peak month
- August: 30 tornadoes (21.4%)
- June: 27 tornadoes (19.3%)
- May: 11 tornadoes (7.9%)
- September: 7 tornadoes (5%)
- October: 6 tornadoes (4.3%)
Top 10 Maine Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Maine is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 |
|---|---|
| Aroostook | 30 |
| Oxford | 17 |
| Penobscot | 14 |
| York | 14 |
| Cumberland | 13 |
| Somerset | 13 |
| Kennebec | 11 |
| Washington | 6 |
| Piscataquis | 5 |
| Androscoggin | 4 |
Maine Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Maine tornadoes are weak: roughly 85% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 14.8% of rated tornadoes in the state.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 36 tornadoes — 28.1% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 73 tornadoes — 57% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 19 tornadoes — 14.8% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Maine
Largest hailstone: 4.00 inches in diameter, observed in County on August 27, 1961. The three largest hailstones on record in Maine measured 4.00″, 4.00″, 4.00″.
Highest measured wind gust: 75 knots (86 mph) recorded in Cumberland County near Cape Elizabeth on July 24, 2012. Most damaging-wind events in Maine are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Maine Compares Nationally
Maine ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, with severe-weather activity well below the central-US average.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- Maine tornado total: 140 — ranked 40th nationally.
- Maine hail total: 1,214 hail events on record since 1950.
- Maine wind total: 2,967 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Maine have on average per year?
Maine averages 1.9 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
Where in Maine are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Aroostook County with 30 events. The three most active counties overall are Aroostook, Oxford, Penobscot.
How does Maine compare to its neighbors?
Maine shares a severe-weather climate with New Hampshire. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Maine’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare Maine to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Maine tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Maine’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- New Hampshire severe storm history — ranked 44th nationally, Northeast nor’easter corridor
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
