Pawtucket, RI
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Pawtucket 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 Providence County, RI. The county's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, inland flooding, and hurricane.
Storm events near Pawtucket
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Pawtucket's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Pawtucket 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 Providence County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Pawtucket along with the rest of the county, not a Pawtucket-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 31.7 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 96.6 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | 56.4 | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | 89.4 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 97.2 | Relatively High |
| Tornado | 78.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 90.6 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 34.9 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 75.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 91.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | 87.3 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 74.7 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 89 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 53.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 37.3 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Providence County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Providence County:
More on Providence County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Pawtucket, RI at risk of?
Pawtucket 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 Providence County, where Pawtucket is located, are heat wave, inland flooding, and hurricane.
What is Pawtucket's biggest natural hazard risk?
Heat Wave is the highest-rated hazard for Providence County, where Pawtucket is located, scoring 97.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Pawtucket a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Pawtucket 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 Providence County.
Has Pawtucket had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 19 tornado, 43 hail, 217 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Pawtucket since 2016.