Kinston, NC
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Kinston 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 Lenoir County, NC. The county's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, hurricane, and tornado.
Storm events near Kinston
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Kinston's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Kinston 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 Lenoir County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Kinston along with the rest of the county, not a Kinston-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 33.7 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 79.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 28.4 | Very Low |
| Earthquake | 73.5 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 76.1 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 86.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 48.4 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 68.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 72.2 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 94.9 | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | 65.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 18.3 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 72.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 76.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 95.5 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Lenoir County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Lenoir County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Kinston, NC at risk of?
Kinston 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 Lenoir County, where Kinston is located, are winter weather, hurricane, and tornado.
What is Kinston's biggest natural hazard risk?
Winter Weather is the highest-rated hazard for Lenoir County, where Kinston is located, scoring 95.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Kinston a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Kinston 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 Lenoir County.
Has Kinston had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 14 tornado, 44 hail, 93 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Kinston since 2016.