St. Joseph, MO
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
St. Joseph is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Buchanan County, MO. The county's highest-rated hazards are hail, heat wave, and tornado.
Storm events near St. Joseph
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of St. Joseph's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to St. Joseph 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 Buchanan County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering St. Joseph along with the rest of the county, not a St. Joseph-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 57.8 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 68.5 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 45 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 89.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 89.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 86.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 72.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 90.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 0 | No Rating |
| Ice Storm | 72.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 83 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 78 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 85.2 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 73.6 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Buchanan County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Buchanan County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is St. Joseph, MO at risk of?
St. Joseph 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 Buchanan County, where St. Joseph is located, are hail, heat wave, and tornado.
What is St. Joseph's biggest natural hazard risk?
Hail is the highest-rated hazard for Buchanan County, where St. Joseph is located, scoring 90.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is St. Joseph a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — St. Joseph carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Buchanan County.
Has St. Joseph had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 5 tornado, 81 hail, 43 inland flooding events within 25 miles of St. Joseph since 2016.