Burlington, IA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Burlington is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Des Moines County, IA. The county's highest-rated hazards are hail, drought, and strong wind.
Storm events near Burlington
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Burlington's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Burlington 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 Des Moines County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Burlington along with the rest of the county, not a Burlington-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 42.9 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 56 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 56.7 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 83.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 69.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 36.6 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 85 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 90.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 15.4 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 67 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 72.7 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 66.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 85 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 59.7 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Des Moines County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Des Moines County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Burlington, IA at risk of?
Burlington 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 Des Moines County, where Burlington is located, are hail, drought, and strong wind.
What is Burlington's biggest natural hazard risk?
Hail is the highest-rated hazard for Des Moines County, where Burlington is located, scoring 90.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Burlington a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Burlington carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Des Moines County.
Has Burlington had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 17 tornado, 109 hail, 85 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Burlington since 2016.