Costa Mesa, CA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Costa Mesa is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk — among the most at-risk counties in the country — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Orange County, CA. The county's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, wildfire, and inland flooding.
Storm events near Costa Mesa
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Costa Mesa's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Costa Mesa 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 Orange County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Costa Mesa along with the rest of the county, not a Costa Mesa-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.8 | Relatively High |
| Inland Flooding | 99.8 | Very High |
| Coastal Flooding | 92 | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | 99.9 | Very High |
| Heat Wave | 97.2 | Relatively High |
| Tornado | 83.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | 13.7 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 0 | No Rating |
| Drought | 32.7 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 79.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 0 | No Rating |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 99.7 | Relatively High |
| Lightning | 66.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 52.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | 56.9 | Relatively Low |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 1.3 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Orange County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Orange County:
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Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Costa Mesa, CA at risk of?
Costa Mesa is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — among the most at-risk counties in the country. The highest-rated hazards for Orange County, where Costa Mesa is located, are earthquake, wildfire, and inland flooding.
What is Costa Mesa's biggest natural hazard risk?
Earthquake is the highest-rated hazard for Orange County, where Costa Mesa is located, scoring 99.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Costa Mesa a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Costa Mesa carries among the most at-risk counties in the country for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Very High" for Orange County.
Has Costa Mesa had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 4 tornado, 3 hail, 86 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Costa Mesa since 2016.