Wendell, NC
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Wendell is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk — higher risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Wake County, NC. The county's highest-rated hazards are hail, inland flooding, and heat wave.
Storm events near Wendell
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Wendell's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Wendell 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 Wake County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Wendell along with the rest of the county, not a Wendell-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 57.4 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 97.7 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 87.8 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 96.9 | Relatively High |
| Tornado | 95.3 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 82.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 51.1 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 98.5 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | 89.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | 90.2 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 71.1 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 91.7 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 49.3 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 84.6 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Wake County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Wake County:
More on Wake County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Wendell, NC at risk of?
Wendell is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — higher risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Wake County, where Wendell is located, are hail, inland flooding, and heat wave.
What is Wendell's biggest natural hazard risk?
Hail is the highest-rated hazard for Wake County, where Wendell is located, scoring 98.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Wendell a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Wendell carries higher risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively High" for Wake County.
Has Wendell had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 8 tornado, 107 hail, 221 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Wendell since 2016.