Lexington-Fayette, KY
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Lexington-Fayette 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 Fayette County, KY. The county's highest-rated hazards are tornado, cold wave, and winter weather.
Storm events near Lexington-Fayette
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Lexington-Fayette's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Lexington-Fayette 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 Fayette County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Lexington-Fayette along with the rest of the county, not a Lexington-Fayette-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 26.9 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 92.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 93 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 87 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 98 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 96.9 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 22 | Very Low |
| Hail | 93.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 57 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 91.2 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 14 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 95.9 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 95.1 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 96.4 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Fayette County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Fayette County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Lexington-Fayette, KY at risk of?
Lexington-Fayette 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 Fayette County, where Lexington-Fayette is located, are tornado, cold wave, and winter weather.
What is Lexington-Fayette's biggest natural hazard risk?
Tornado is the highest-rated hazard for Fayette County, where Lexington-Fayette is located, scoring 98 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Lexington-Fayette a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Lexington-Fayette 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 Fayette County.
Has Lexington-Fayette had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 14 tornado, 75 hail, 123 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Lexington-Fayette since 2016.