Boston, MA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Boston 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 Suffolk County, MA. The county's highest-rated hazards are lightning, heat wave, and earthquake.
Storm events near Boston
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Boston's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Boston 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 Suffolk County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Boston along with the rest of the county, not a Boston-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 9 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 94.7 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | 92.2 | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | 95 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 97.5 | Relatively High |
| Tornado | 75.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 94.2 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 0 | No Rating |
| Hail | 76.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 93.7 | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | 79.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 36.2 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 97.8 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 52 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 44.1 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Suffolk County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Suffolk County:
More on Suffolk County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Boston, MA at risk of?
Boston 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 Suffolk County, where Boston is located, are lightning, heat wave, and earthquake.
What is Boston's biggest natural hazard risk?
Lightning is the highest-rated hazard for Suffolk County, where Boston is located, scoring 97.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Boston a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Boston 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 Suffolk County.
Has Boston had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 5 tornado, 40 hail, 308 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Boston since 2016.