Cary, IL
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Cary 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 McHenry County, IL. The county's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, tornado, and inland flooding.
Storm events near Cary
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Cary's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Cary 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 McHenry County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Cary along with the rest of the county, not a Cary-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 31.6 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 93.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 74.7 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 75.5 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 96.3 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 96.7 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 59.2 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 79.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 10.3 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 55.6 | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | 57.2 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 73.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 85.5 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 79.2 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full McHenry County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in McHenry County:
More on McHenry County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Cary, IL at risk of?
Cary 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 McHenry County, where Cary is located, are cold wave, tornado, and inland flooding.
What is Cary's biggest natural hazard risk?
Cold Wave is the highest-rated hazard for McHenry County, where Cary is located, scoring 96.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Cary a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Cary 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 McHenry County.
Has Cary had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 41 tornado, 209 hail, 123 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Cary since 2016.