Kennewick, WA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Kennewick 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 Benton County, WA. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, heat wave, and earthquake.
Storm events near Kennewick
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Kennewick's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Kennewick 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 Benton County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Kennewick along with the rest of the county, not a Kennewick-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 96.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 89.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 93.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 94.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 19.6 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | 33.8 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 82.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 28.1 | Very Low |
| Hail | 52.3 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 89.3 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 77.5 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 63 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 46.4 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | 81.1 | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | 92 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Benton County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Benton County:
More on Benton County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Kennewick, WA at risk of?
Kennewick 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 Benton County, where Kennewick is located, are wildfire, heat wave, and earthquake.
What is Kennewick's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Benton County, where Kennewick is located, scoring 96.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Kennewick a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Kennewick 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 Benton County.
Has Kennewick had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 2 tornado, 3 hail, 3 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Kennewick since 2016.