West Lafayette, IN
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
West Lafayette 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 Tippecanoe County, IN. The county's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, winter weather, and hail.
Storm events near West Lafayette
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of West Lafayette's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to West Lafayette 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 Tippecanoe County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering West Lafayette along with the rest of the county, not a West Lafayette-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 29 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 79.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 80.3 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 85.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 83.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 95.6 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 56.5 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 92.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 43.6 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 63 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 67.9 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 66 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 85.2 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 95.3 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Tippecanoe County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Tippecanoe County:
More on Tippecanoe County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is West Lafayette, IN at risk of?
West Lafayette 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 Tippecanoe County, where West Lafayette is located, are cold wave, winter weather, and hail.
What is West Lafayette's biggest natural hazard risk?
Cold Wave is the highest-rated hazard for Tippecanoe County, where West Lafayette is located, scoring 95.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is West Lafayette a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — West Lafayette 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 Tippecanoe County.
Has West Lafayette had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 26 tornado, 52 hail, 17 inland flooding events within 25 miles of West Lafayette since 2016.