Iowa City, IA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Iowa City 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 Johnson County, IA. The county's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, tornado, and hail.
Storm events near Iowa City
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Iowa City's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Iowa City 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 Johnson County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Iowa City along with the rest of the county, not a Iowa City-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 64.4 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 79.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 45.1 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 87.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 98.2 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 90.3 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 81.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 95.3 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | 13.6 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 75.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 79.1 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 74.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 98.9 | Very High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 87.9 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Johnson County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Johnson County:
More on Johnson County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Iowa City, IA at risk of?
Iowa City 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 Johnson County, where Iowa City is located, are strong wind, tornado, and hail.
What is Iowa City's biggest natural hazard risk?
Strong Wind is the highest-rated hazard for Johnson County, where Iowa City is located, scoring 98.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Iowa City a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Iowa City 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 Johnson County.
Has Iowa City had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 40 tornado, 190 hail, 50 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Iowa City since 2016.