Asheville, NC
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Asheville is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Buncombe County, NC. The county's highest-rated hazards are landslide, cold wave, and lightning.
Storm events near Asheville
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Asheville's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Asheville 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 Buncombe County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Asheville along with the rest of the county, not a Asheville-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 80.6 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 91.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 85.4 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 2.2 | Very Low |
| Tornado | 81.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 97.2 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 65.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 75.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 68.6 | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | 94.2 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 98.9 | Relatively High |
| Lightning | 96.6 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 92.6 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 77.1 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Buncombe County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Buncombe County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Asheville, NC at risk of?
Asheville is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, are landslide, cold wave, and lightning.
What is Asheville's biggest natural hazard risk?
Landslide is the highest-rated hazard for Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, scoring 98.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Asheville a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Asheville carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Buncombe County.
Has Asheville had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 4 tornado, 75 hail, 103 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Asheville since 2016.