Columbia, MO
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Columbia 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 Boone County, MO. The county's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, lightning, and tornado.
Storm events near Columbia
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Columbia's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Columbia 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 Boone County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Columbia along with the rest of the county, not a Columbia-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 70.7 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 87.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 87 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 93.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 92.3 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 80.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 49.7 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 71.7 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 25.6 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 86.7 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 88.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | 92.5 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 91 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 91.5 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Boone County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Boone County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Columbia, MO at risk of?
Columbia 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 Boone County, where Columbia is located, are heat wave, lightning, and tornado.
What is Columbia's biggest natural hazard risk?
Heat Wave is the highest-rated hazard for Boone County, where Columbia is located, scoring 93.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Columbia a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Columbia 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 Boone County.
Has Columbia had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 4 tornado, 55 hail, 42 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Columbia since 2016.