Ellensburg, WA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Ellensburg 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 Kittitas County, WA. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, landslide, and avalanche.
Storm events near Ellensburg
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Ellensburg's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Ellensburg 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 Kittitas County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Ellensburg along with the rest of the county, not a Ellensburg-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.7 | Relatively High |
| Inland Flooding | 74.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 93.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 66.2 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 7.4 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | 97.7 | Very High |
| Cold Wave | 65.3 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 16.5 | Very Low |
| Hail | 14.2 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 22.6 | Very Low |
| Landslide | 98.2 | Relatively High |
| Lightning | 39.3 | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | 8.4 | Very Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | 83.1 | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | 53.3 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Kittitas County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Kittitas County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Ellensburg, WA at risk of?
Ellensburg 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 Kittitas County, where Ellensburg is located, are wildfire, landslide, and avalanche.
What is Ellensburg's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Kittitas County, where Ellensburg is located, scoring 99.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Ellensburg a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Ellensburg 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 Kittitas County.
Has Ellensburg had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 1 tornado, 5 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Ellensburg since 2016.