Harrisburg, PA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Harrisburg 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 Dauphin County, PA. The county's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, inland flooding, and strong wind.
Storm events near Harrisburg
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Harrisburg's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Harrisburg 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 Dauphin County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Harrisburg along with the rest of the county, not a Harrisburg-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 38.9 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 94.8 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 87.3 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 88.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 79.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | 41.1 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 67.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 49.3 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 23.7 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 89.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | 51.7 | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | 84.6 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 88.3 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 93.2 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 98.2 | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Dauphin County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Dauphin County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Harrisburg, PA at risk of?
Harrisburg 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 Dauphin County, where Harrisburg is located, are winter weather, inland flooding, and strong wind.
What is Harrisburg's biggest natural hazard risk?
Winter Weather is the highest-rated hazard for Dauphin County, where Harrisburg is located, scoring 98.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Harrisburg a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Harrisburg 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 Dauphin County.
Has Harrisburg had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 9 tornado, 44 hail, 66 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Harrisburg since 2016.