Arkansas City, KS
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Arkansas City is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Cowley County, KS. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, tornado, and ice storm.
Storm events near Arkansas City
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Arkansas City's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Arkansas City itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Cowley County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Arkansas City along with the rest of the county, not a Arkansas City-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 91.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 56.3 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 40.4 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 78.5 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 91 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 86 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 64.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 80.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 21 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 86.4 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 57.3 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 42.4 | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | 83.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 66.5 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Cowley County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Cowley County:
More on Cowley County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Arkansas City, KS at risk of?
Arkansas City is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Cowley County, where Arkansas City is located, are wildfire, tornado, and ice storm.
What is Arkansas City's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Cowley County, where Arkansas City is located, scoring 91.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Arkansas City a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Arkansas City carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Cowley County.
Has Arkansas City had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 24 tornado, 208 hail, 34 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Arkansas City since 2016.