Gastonia, NC
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Gastonia 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 Gaston County, NC. The county's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, strong wind, and tornado.
Storm events near Gastonia
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Gastonia's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Gastonia 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 Gaston County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Gastonia along with the rest of the county, not a Gastonia-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 48.2 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 88.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 85.8 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 68.3 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 91.1 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 60.7 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 38.5 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 68.4 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 70.2 | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | 97.6 | Very High |
| Landslide | 57.1 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 90.8 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 95.2 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 58.5 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Gaston County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Gaston County:
More on Gaston County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Gastonia, NC at risk of?
Gastonia 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 Gaston County, where Gastonia is located, are ice storm, strong wind, and tornado.
What is Gastonia's biggest natural hazard risk?
Ice Storm is the highest-rated hazard for Gaston County, where Gastonia is located, scoring 97.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Gastonia a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Gastonia 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 Gaston County.
Has Gastonia had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 22 tornado, 116 hail, 57 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Gastonia since 2016.