Western Springs, IL

Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data

Population: 13,529 · Part of Cook County

Western Springs is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk — among the most at-risk counties in the country — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Cook County, IL. The county's highest-rated hazards are tornado, cold wave, and winter weather.

Storm events near Western Springs

NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Western Springs's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Western Springs itself, not the whole county.

Tornado 70 events
Hail 357 events
Inland Flooding 361 events

County-wide hazard risk

Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Cook County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Western Springs along with the rest of the county, not a Western Springs-specific figure.

Hazard NRI score Rating
Wildfire 55.8 Very Low
Inland Flooding 99.9 Very High
Coastal Flooding 44 Relatively Low
Earthquake 98.4 Relatively High
Heat Wave 99.8 Very High
Tornado 100 Very High
Avalanche Not Applicable
Cold Wave 100 Very High
Drought 25.7 Very Low
Hail 99.1 Relatively High
Hurricane 48.9 Very Low
Ice Storm 97.2 Very High
Landslide 56.4 Very Low
Lightning 98.2 Very High
Strong Wind 99.6 Very High
Tsunami Insufficient Data
Volcanic Activity Not Applicable
Winter Weather 100 Very High

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Cook County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.

Other cities in Cook County:

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Frequently asked questions

What natural hazards is Western Springs, IL at risk of?

Western Springs is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — among the most at-risk counties in the country. The highest-rated hazards for Cook County, where Western Springs is located, are tornado, cold wave, and winter weather.

What is Western Springs's biggest natural hazard risk?

Tornado is the highest-rated hazard for Cook County, where Western Springs is located, scoring 100 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").

Is Western Springs a high-risk area for natural disasters?

Yes — Western Springs carries among the most at-risk counties in the country for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Very High" for Cook County.

Has Western Springs had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?

NOAA has recorded 70 tornado, 357 hail, 361 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Western Springs since 2016.