El Centro, CA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
El Centro is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk — higher risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Imperial County, CA. The county's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, inland flooding, and heat wave.
Storm events near El Centro
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of El Centro's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to El Centro 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 Imperial County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering El Centro along with the rest of the county, not a El Centro-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 76 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 94.1 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 99.2 | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | 94 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 11.4 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 0 | No Rating |
| Drought | 69.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 20.2 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 22.3 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 41.2 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 16 | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | 54.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | 86 | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | 1.1 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Imperial County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Imperial County:
More on Imperial County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is El Centro, CA at risk of?
El Centro is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — higher risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Imperial County, where El Centro is located, are earthquake, inland flooding, and heat wave.
What is El Centro's biggest natural hazard risk?
Earthquake is the highest-rated hazard for Imperial County, where El Centro is located, scoring 99.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is El Centro a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — El Centro carries higher risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively High" for Imperial County.
Has El Centro had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 26 inland flooding events within 25 miles of El Centro since 2016.