Grass Valley, CA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Grass Valley 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 Nevada County, CA. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, landslide, and earthquake.
Storm events near Grass Valley
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Grass Valley's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Grass Valley 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 Nevada County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Grass Valley along with the rest of the county, not a Grass Valley-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.4 | Relatively High |
| Inland Flooding | 89.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 92.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 57.8 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 17.9 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | 89.5 | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | 0 | No Rating |
| Drought | 0 | No Rating |
| Hail | 49.3 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 95.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | 70.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 13.7 | Very Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | 58 | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | 69.6 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Nevada County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Nevada County:
More on Nevada County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Grass Valley, CA at risk of?
Grass Valley 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 Nevada County, where Grass Valley is located, are wildfire, landslide, and earthquake.
What is Grass Valley's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Nevada County, where Grass Valley is located, scoring 99.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Grass Valley a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Grass Valley 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 Nevada County.
Has Grass Valley had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 4 hail, 42 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Grass Valley since 2016.