Concord, MA EF1 Tornado of August 22, 2016

Rough day for owners of 39 #Concord homes damaged by EF1 #tornado. Busy day for tree companies. @fox25news pic.twitter.com/6jDppXVzDV
— Christine McCarthy (@ChristineMNews) August 22, 2016

Figure 1 depicts the surface observations at 2:00 am EDT, which shows a low pressure system across Massachusetts. This low pressure was responsible for triggering showers and thunderstorms across the state, which ultimately led to this tornado.

**Figure 1.** Surface analysis at 06Z on August 22, 2016 showing mean sea-level pressure (MSLP) contours, surface observations, fronts and pressure centers (WPC, 2017)

The Concord, MA EF1 tornado of August 22, 2016 impacted Middlesex County in Massachusetts. According to NOAA (2020), the EF1 tornado caused no fatalities or injuries, but caused $1 million dollars in property damage. The tornado touched down near the Cambridge Turnpike at 3:20 am EDT. The tornado travelled for 0.85 miles and had a maximum width of 400 yards.

BREAKING: EF-1 tornado confirmed in #Concord MA. Max wind 100 mph. 1/2 mi long & 400 yd wide. Occurred w/in larger area of wind damage.
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) August 22, 2016

**Figure 2.** Episode narrative for August 22, 2016 (NOAA NCEI, 2020).

Sources

NWS Weather Prediction Center Surface Analysis Archive. (2017). Surface analysis 06Z Mon Aug 22 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/archives/web_pages/sfc/sfc_archive.php

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (2020). Storm Events Database. Retrieved from: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/

National Centers for Environmental Information reports:

A tornado developed within an area of showers and thunderstorms moving through southern New England. This tornado touched down near the Cambridge Turnpike and headed northeast. Most of the damage was concentrated in an area beginning near the intersection of Lexington Road and Alcott Road and continuing up to the neighborhood of Alcott and Independence Roads. Numerous trees were uprooted or had the tops sheared off. These subsequently blocked roads, damaged homes, and downed power lines, cutting off power to the neighborhood. In addition, utility poles were downed either from the wind or from the downed power lines. Thirty-nine houses in this area were damaged to some degree. Only one house suffered significant structural damage. The tornado continued for a short distance beyond this neighborhood before lifting. The historical home of Louisa May Alcott and her family was right next to the tornado path but was not damaged.

Sources

National Centers for Environmental Information reports:

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