Fort Walton Beach, FL
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Fort Walton Beach 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 Okaloosa County, FL. The county's highest-rated hazards are lightning, hurricane, and tornado.
Storm events near Fort Walton Beach
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Fort Walton Beach's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Fort Walton Beach 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 Okaloosa County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Fort Walton Beach along with the rest of the county, not a Fort Walton Beach-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 75.7 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 80.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 62.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | 62.3 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 88.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 94.2 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 72.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 20.9 | Very Low |
| Hail | 28.9 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 98.1 | Very High |
| Ice Storm | 36.6 | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | 45.2 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 99.1 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 73.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 46.9 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Okaloosa County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Okaloosa County:
More on Okaloosa County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Fort Walton Beach, FL at risk of?
Fort Walton Beach 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 Okaloosa County, where Fort Walton Beach is located, are lightning, hurricane, and tornado.
What is Fort Walton Beach's biggest natural hazard risk?
Lightning is the highest-rated hazard for Okaloosa County, where Fort Walton Beach is located, scoring 99.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Fort Walton Beach a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Fort Walton Beach 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 Okaloosa County.
Has Fort Walton Beach had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 17 tornado, 10 hail, 41 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Fort Walton Beach since 2016.