Knoxville, TN
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Knoxville 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 Knox County, TN. The county's highest-rated hazards are lightning, earthquake, and tornado.
Storm events near Knoxville
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Knoxville's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Knoxville 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 Knox County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Knoxville along with the rest of the county, not a Knoxville-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 63 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 92.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 96.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 72.6 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 96.7 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 92.6 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 39.4 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 59.7 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 65.8 | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | 92.3 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 96.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | 98.1 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 89.3 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 95.4 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Knox County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Knox County:
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Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Knoxville, TN at risk of?
Knoxville 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 Knox County, where Knoxville is located, are lightning, earthquake, and tornado.
What is Knoxville's biggest natural hazard risk?
Lightning is the highest-rated hazard for Knox County, where Knoxville is located, scoring 98.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Knoxville a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Knoxville 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 Knox County.
Has Knoxville had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 4 tornado, 96 hail, 112 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Knoxville since 2016.