Chesterton, IN
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Chesterton 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 Porter County, IN. The county's highest-rated hazards are tornado, cold wave, and strong wind.
Storm events near Chesterton
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Chesterton's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Chesterton 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 Porter County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Chesterton along with the rest of the county, not a Chesterton-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 60.5 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 80 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 27.4 | Very Low |
| Earthquake | 69.4 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 70.4 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 94.4 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 93.8 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 0 | No Rating |
| Hail | 31.6 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 13.2 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 47.5 | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | 54.4 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 56.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 91.2 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 73.2 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Porter County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Porter County:
More on Porter County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Chesterton, IN at risk of?
Chesterton 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 Porter County, where Chesterton is located, are tornado, cold wave, and strong wind.
What is Chesterton's biggest natural hazard risk?
Tornado is the highest-rated hazard for Porter County, where Chesterton is located, scoring 94.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Chesterton a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Chesterton 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 Porter County.
Has Chesterton had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 17 tornado, 80 hail, 49 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Chesterton since 2016.