Massachusetts Power Outage Season
When outages happen most in Massachusetts, and what to expect.
July is historically Massachusetts's busiest month for recorded power outages, part of a summer season (June–August) that accounts for about 32% of all recorded outages statewide, averaging 2.6 hours per event.
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Massachusetts outages by month
Total recorded events and average duration per event, summed across every tracked county in Massachusetts.
Peak season insight
Massachusetts's outage season runs June–August, accounting for 32% of all recorded outages. July has the highest frequency.
Month-by-month data table
| Month | Events | Avg duration |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,968 | 2.5 hrs |
| February | 1,842 | 3.1 hrs |
| March | 2,121 | 3.5 hrs |
| April | 1,768 | 2.4 hrs |
| May | 1,914 | 2.0 hrs |
| June | 2,629 | 2.1 hrs |
| July | 3,104 | 2.3 hrs |
| August | 2,821 | 2.5 hrs |
| September | 2,149 | 2.3 hrs |
| October | 2,287 | 3.6 hrs |
| November | 2,277 | 2.4 hrs |
| December | 2,228 | 2.4 hrs |
This month in Massachusetts
October has historically recorded 2,287 outage events across Massachusetts, above the state's typical monthly average. Outages that start in October have averaged 3.6 hours.
Main causes by season
Named storms behind Massachusetts's worst recorded outages, from the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Winter (December–February)
- High Wind
- Coastal Flood
- Blizzard
- Winter Storm
Spring (March–May)
- Heavy Snow
- High Wind
- Strong Wind
- Coastal Flood
- Winter Storm
Summer (June–August)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Tropical Storm Isaias
Fall (September–November)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Tropical Storm Phillipe
- Heavy Snow
- High Wind
- Winter Storm
Massachusetts's worst outage events on record
The five largest outages in Massachusetts by duration and customers affected.
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 8, 2018 | 93 hrs | 148,898 (18%) | High Wind |
| Mar 2, 2018 | 81 hrs | 141,383 (23%) | High Wind |
| Mar 8, 2018 | 91 hrs | 112,655 (25%) | High Wind |
| Oct 28, 2021 | 79 hrs | 125,477 (21%) | High Wind |
| Mar 13, 2018 | 67 hrs | 128,268 (34%) | Strong Wind |
Highest-risk counties in Massachusetts
Lowest reliability percentile among Massachusetts's tracked counties.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | D | 37th |
| Plymouth County | C | 47th |
| Nantucket County | C | 47th |
| Essex County | C | 50th |
| Worcester County | C | 55th |
Live weather alerts for Massachusetts
There are no active National Weather Service alerts for Massachusetts right now.
These live alerts come from the National Weather Service. They are public-safety information, not an outage prediction.
Massachusetts power outage FAQ
When do power outages happen most in Massachusetts?
July is historically the busiest single month for recorded outages in Massachusetts, and Summer (June–August) accounts for about 32% of all recorded outages across the state.
How long do power outages in Massachusetts typically last?
Across Massachusetts's tracked counties, the average recorded outage lasts about 2.6 hours, though individual events -- especially named storms -- can run much longer.
Which counties in Massachusetts have the highest outage risk?
Barnstable County, Plymouth County, Nantucket County, Essex County, Worcester County currently rank lowest for reliability in Massachusetts. See each county's page for its full history.
Does this page predict a power outage in Massachusetts?
No. It describes patterns in recorded county-level outage history, not a guaranteed future event. Check the live National Weather Service alerts below for current conditions.
Prepare for Massachusetts's outage season
Sized for Massachusetts's recorded outage frequency and duration.
