Philadelphia, PA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Philadelphia is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk — among the most at-risk counties in the country — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Philadelphia County, PA. The county's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, cold wave, and winter weather.
Storm events near Philadelphia
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Philadelphia's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Philadelphia along with the rest of the county, not a Philadelphia-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 28.7 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 99.6 | Very High |
| Coastal Flooding | 85.4 | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | 98.3 | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | 100 | Very High |
| Tornado | 98.7 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 99.8 | Very High |
| Drought | 21.7 | Very Low |
| Hail | 95.1 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | 94.3 | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | 94.2 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 76.3 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 96.2 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 97.9 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 99.8 | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Philadelphia County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Philadelphia County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Philadelphia, PA at risk of?
Philadelphia is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — among the most at-risk counties in the country. The highest-rated hazards for Philadelphia County, where Philadelphia is located, are heat wave, cold wave, and winter weather.
What is Philadelphia's biggest natural hazard risk?
Heat Wave is the highest-rated hazard for Philadelphia County, where Philadelphia is located, scoring 100 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Philadelphia a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Philadelphia carries among the most at-risk counties in the country for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Very High" for Philadelphia County.
Has Philadelphia had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 28 tornado, 212 hail, 551 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Philadelphia since 2016.