Gainesville, FL
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Gainesville 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 Alachua County, FL. The county's highest-rated hazards are lightning, hurricane, and wildfire.
Storm events near Gainesville
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Gainesville's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Gainesville 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 Alachua County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Gainesville along with the rest of the county, not a Gainesville-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 95.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 88.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 0 | No Rating |
| Earthquake | 65.6 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 86.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 90.3 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 58.3 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 41.3 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 17.9 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 96.7 | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 35.1 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 97.7 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 80.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 12.5 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Alachua County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Alachua County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Gainesville, FL at risk of?
Gainesville 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 Alachua County, where Gainesville is located, are lightning, hurricane, and wildfire.
What is Gainesville's biggest natural hazard risk?
Lightning is the highest-rated hazard for Alachua County, where Gainesville is located, scoring 97.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Gainesville a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Gainesville 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 Alachua County.
Has Gainesville had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 9 tornado, 28 hail, 31 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Gainesville since 2016.