Wilmington, NC
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 Hanover County, NC. The county's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, lightning, and winter weather.
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 Hanover 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 | 83 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 89.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 89.2 | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | 81 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 85.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 90.4 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 67.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 19.2 | Very Low |
| Hail | 21.1 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 99.1 | Very High |
| Ice Storm | 90.7 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 19 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 97.7 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 54.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 96.1 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full New Hanover County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on New Hanover County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Wilmington, NC 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 Hanover County, where Wilmington is located, are hurricane, lightning, and winter weather.
What is Wilmington's biggest natural hazard risk?
Hurricane is the highest-rated hazard for New Hanover County, where Wilmington is located, scoring 99.1 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 Hanover County.
Has Wilmington had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 42 tornado, 40 hail, 135 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Wilmington since 2016.