Lake Wales, FL
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Lake Wales is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk — higher risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Polk County, FL. The county's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, lightning, and hurricane.
Storm events near Lake Wales
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Lake Wales's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Lake Wales 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 Polk County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Lake Wales along with the rest of the county, not a Lake Wales-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 97 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 94.6 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 52.4 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 93.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 93.9 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 76.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 71.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 73.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 98.5 | Very High |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 64.2 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 99.6 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 99.9 | Very High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 0 | No Rating |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Polk County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Polk County:
More on Polk County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Lake Wales, FL at risk of?
Lake Wales is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — higher risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Polk County, where Lake Wales is located, are strong wind, lightning, and hurricane.
What is Lake Wales's biggest natural hazard risk?
Strong Wind is the highest-rated hazard for Polk County, where Lake Wales is located, scoring 99.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Lake Wales a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Lake Wales carries higher risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively High" for Polk County.
Has Lake Wales had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 11 tornado, 25 hail, 1 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Lake Wales since 2016.