South Lake Tahoe, CA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
South Lake Tahoe 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 El Dorado County, CA. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, landslide, and inland flooding.
Storm events near South Lake Tahoe
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of South Lake Tahoe's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to South Lake Tahoe 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 El Dorado County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering South Lake Tahoe along with the rest of the county, not a South Lake Tahoe-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.7 | Relatively High |
| Inland Flooding | 91.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 91.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 68 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 13.7 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | 85.8 | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | 0 | No Rating |
| Drought | 77.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 18.9 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 97 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | 69 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 18.7 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | 60.6 | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | 85.4 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full El Dorado County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on El Dorado County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is South Lake Tahoe, CA at risk of?
South Lake Tahoe 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 El Dorado County, where South Lake Tahoe is located, are wildfire, landslide, and inland flooding.
What is South Lake Tahoe's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for El Dorado County, where South Lake Tahoe is located, scoring 99.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is South Lake Tahoe a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — South Lake Tahoe 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 El Dorado County.
Has South Lake Tahoe had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 2 tornado, 8 hail, 18 inland flooding events within 25 miles of South Lake Tahoe since 2016.