West Chester, PA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
West Chester 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 Chester County, PA. The county's highest-rated hazards are drought, winter weather, and heat wave.
Storm events near West Chester
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of West Chester's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to West Chester 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 Chester County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering West Chester along with the rest of the county, not a West Chester-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 30.7 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 94.3 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | 0 | No Rating |
| Earthquake | 90.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 95.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 88 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 84.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 98.6 | Relatively High |
| Hail | 61.2 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 88.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | 85.7 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 77.8 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 91.4 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 94.6 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 98.4 | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Chester County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Chester County:
More on Chester County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is West Chester, PA at risk of?
West Chester 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 Chester County, where West Chester is located, are drought, winter weather, and heat wave.
What is West Chester's biggest natural hazard risk?
Drought is the highest-rated hazard for Chester County, where West Chester is located, scoring 98.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is West Chester a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — West Chester 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 Chester County.
Has West Chester had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 13 tornado, 134 hail, 491 inland flooding events within 25 miles of West Chester since 2016.