Watertown, SD
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Watertown is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Codington County, SD. The county's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, winter weather, and cold wave.
Storm events near Watertown
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Watertown's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Watertown 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 Codington County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Watertown along with the rest of the county, not a Watertown-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 71 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 65.2 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 21.7 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 38.5 | Very Low |
| Tornado | 77 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 82.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 36.6 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 70.2 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 94.8 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 24.7 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 7.7 | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | 64.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 93.1 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Codington County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Codington County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Watertown, SD at risk of?
Watertown 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 Codington County, where Watertown is located, are ice storm, winter weather, and cold wave.
What is Watertown's biggest natural hazard risk?
Ice Storm is the highest-rated hazard for Codington County, where Watertown is located, scoring 94.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Watertown a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Watertown carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Codington County.
Has Watertown had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 24 tornado, 116 hail, 111 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Watertown since 2016.