Rapid City, SD
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Rapid City is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Pennington County, SD. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, hail, and winter weather.
Storm events near Rapid City
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Rapid City's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Rapid City 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 Pennington County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Rapid City along with the rest of the county, not a Rapid City-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 97.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 75.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 56.9 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 59.6 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 61 | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | 6.4 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 85.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 25.6 | Very Low |
| Hail | 96.9 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 82.6 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 84.8 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 91.2 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 30.4 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 94.6 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Pennington County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Pennington County:
More on Pennington County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Rapid City, SD at risk of?
Rapid City is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Pennington County, where Rapid City is located, are wildfire, hail, and winter weather.
What is Rapid City's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Pennington County, where Rapid City is located, scoring 97.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Rapid City a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Rapid City carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Pennington County.
Has Rapid City had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 2 tornado, 853 hail, 39 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Rapid City since 2016.