Salisbury, NC
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Salisbury 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 Rowan County, NC. The county's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, cold wave, and tornado.
Storm events near Salisbury
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Salisbury's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Salisbury 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 Rowan County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Salisbury along with the rest of the county, not a Salisbury-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 47.7 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 84.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 83 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 50.9 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 85.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 94.6 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 71.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 47.8 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 72.4 | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | 94.9 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 35.9 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 72.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 72.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 69.7 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Rowan County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Rowan County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Salisbury, NC at risk of?
Salisbury 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 Rowan County, where Salisbury is located, are ice storm, cold wave, and tornado.
What is Salisbury's biggest natural hazard risk?
Ice Storm is the highest-rated hazard for Rowan County, where Salisbury is located, scoring 94.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Salisbury a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Salisbury 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 Rowan County.
Has Salisbury had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 12 tornado, 77 hail, 63 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Salisbury since 2016.