Bellingham, WA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Bellingham 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 Whatcom County, WA. The county's highest-rated hazards are avalanche, earthquake, and landslide.
Storm events near Bellingham
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Bellingham's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Bellingham 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 Whatcom County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Bellingham along with the rest of the county, not a Bellingham-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 61.7 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 88.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 63.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | 97.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 78.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 13.1 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | 98.2 | Very High |
| Cold Wave | 86 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 14.5 | Very Low |
| Hail | 2 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 97.1 | Very High |
| Landslide | 97.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | 62.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 2.2 | Very Low |
| Tsunami | 23.1 | Very Low |
| Volcanic Activity | 93.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | 82.5 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Whatcom County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Whatcom County:
More on Whatcom County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Bellingham, WA at risk of?
Bellingham 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 Whatcom County, where Bellingham is located, are avalanche, earthquake, and landslide.
What is Bellingham's biggest natural hazard risk?
Avalanche is the highest-rated hazard for Whatcom County, where Bellingham is located, scoring 98.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Bellingham a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Bellingham 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 Whatcom County.
Has Bellingham had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 3 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Bellingham since 2016.