Fayetteville, NC
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Fayetteville 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 Cumberland County, NC. The county's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, heat wave, and hurricane.
Storm events near Fayetteville
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Fayetteville's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Fayetteville 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 Cumberland County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Fayetteville along with the rest of the county, not a Fayetteville-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 84.2 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 89.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 0 | No Rating |
| Earthquake | 87.5 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 94.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 93 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 77.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 45.3 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 79.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 94 | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | 91.3 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 56.4 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 93.1 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 75.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 97.5 | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Cumberland County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Cumberland County:
More on Cumberland County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Fayetteville, NC at risk of?
Fayetteville 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 Cumberland County, where Fayetteville is located, are winter weather, heat wave, and hurricane.
What is Fayetteville's biggest natural hazard risk?
Winter Weather is the highest-rated hazard for Cumberland County, where Fayetteville is located, scoring 97.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Fayetteville a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Fayetteville 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 Cumberland County.
Has Fayetteville had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 3 tornado, 48 hail, 71 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Fayetteville since 2016.