Syracuse, NY
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Syracuse 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 Onondaga County, NY. The county's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, winter weather, and ice storm.
Storm events near Syracuse
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Syracuse's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Syracuse 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 Onondaga County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Syracuse along with the rest of the county, not a Syracuse-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 46.3 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 95.2 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 81.4 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 82.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 87.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | 40.4 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 74.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 0 | No Rating |
| Hail | 78.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 77.2 | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | 96.9 | Very High |
| Landslide | 62.4 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 91.9 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 98.3 | Very High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 97.6 | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Onondaga County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Onondaga County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Syracuse, NY at risk of?
Syracuse 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 Onondaga County, where Syracuse is located, are strong wind, winter weather, and ice storm.
What is Syracuse's biggest natural hazard risk?
Strong Wind is the highest-rated hazard for Onondaga County, where Syracuse is located, scoring 98.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Syracuse a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Syracuse 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 Onondaga County.
Has Syracuse had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 1 tornado, 53 hail, 70 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Syracuse since 2016.