Lincoln, NE
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Lincoln 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 Lancaster County, NE. The county's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, tornado, and hail.
Storm events near Lincoln
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Lincoln's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Lincoln 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 Lancaster County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Lincoln along with the rest of the county, not a Lincoln-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 93.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 85.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 40.8 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 76.4 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 98.8 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 78.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 69.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 98.8 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | 0 | No Rating |
| Ice Storm | 90.4 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 59 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 92.1 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 99.2 | Very High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 98 | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Lancaster County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Lancaster County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Lincoln, NE at risk of?
Lincoln 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 Lancaster County, where Lincoln is located, are strong wind, tornado, and hail.
What is Lincoln's biggest natural hazard risk?
Strong Wind is the highest-rated hazard for Lancaster County, where Lincoln is located, scoring 99.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Lincoln a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Lincoln 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 Lancaster County.
Has Lincoln had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 26 tornado, 202 hail, 45 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Lincoln since 2016.