Bay City, TX
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Bay City is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Matagorda County, TX. The county's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, drought, and heat wave.
Storm events near Bay City
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Bay City's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Bay 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 Matagorda County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Bay City along with the rest of the county, not a Bay City-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 73.7 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 59.4 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | 68 | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | 20.4 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 74.3 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 59.7 | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 61.5 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 90.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 40.6 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 95.6 | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | 52.2 | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | 12.9 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 64.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 19.9 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 5.7 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Matagorda County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Matagorda County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Bay City, TX at risk of?
Bay 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 Matagorda County, where Bay City is located, are hurricane, drought, and heat wave.
What is Bay City's biggest natural hazard risk?
Hurricane is the highest-rated hazard for Matagorda County, where Bay City is located, scoring 95.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Bay City a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Bay City carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Matagorda County.
Has Bay City had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 8 tornado, 5 hail, 10 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Bay City since 2016.