Wilmington, DE
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Wilmington is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk — higher risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for New Castle County, DE. The county's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, inland flooding, and heat wave.
Storm events near Wilmington
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Wilmington's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Wilmington 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 New Castle County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Wilmington along with the rest of the county, not a Wilmington-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 60.6 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 97.6 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | 83.8 | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | 92.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 95.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 88.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 93.4 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 84 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 24.2 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 88.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | 89 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 76.6 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 81.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 88.3 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 99.5 | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full New Castle County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in New Castle County:
More on New Castle County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Wilmington, DE at risk of?
Wilmington 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 New Castle County, where Wilmington is located, are winter weather, inland flooding, and heat wave.
What is Wilmington's biggest natural hazard risk?
Winter Weather is the highest-rated hazard for New Castle County, where Wilmington is located, scoring 99.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Wilmington a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Wilmington carries higher risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively High" for New Castle County.
Has Wilmington had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 11 tornado, 92 hail, 428 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Wilmington since 2016.