Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Sault Ste. Marie is rated Very Low for overall natural hazard risk — among the lowest-risk counties in the country — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Chippewa County, MI. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, cold wave, and landslide.
Storm events near Sault Ste. Marie
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Sault Ste. Marie's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Sault Ste. Marie 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 Chippewa County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Sault Ste. Marie along with the rest of the county, not a Sault Ste. Marie-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 75.4 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 49.9 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | 44.2 | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | 13.7 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 8.1 | Very Low |
| Tornado | 7.3 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 60.2 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 0 | No Rating |
| Hail | 10.6 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 16.5 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 7.7 | Very Low |
| Landslide | 50.9 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 36.5 | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | 7.5 | Very Low |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 37.5 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Chippewa County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Chippewa County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Sault Ste. Marie, MI at risk of?
Sault Ste. Marie is rated Very Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The highest-rated hazards for Chippewa County, where Sault Ste. Marie is located, are wildfire, cold wave, and landslide.
What is Sault Ste. Marie's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Chippewa County, where Sault Ste. Marie is located, scoring 75.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Low").
Is Sault Ste. Marie a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Sault Ste. Marie carries among the lowest-risk counties in the country for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Very Low" for Chippewa County.
Has Sault Ste. Marie had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 1 tornado, 10 hail, 1 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Sault Ste. Marie since 2016.