Winston-Salem, NC
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Winston-Salem 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 Forsyth County, NC. The county's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, inland flooding, and winter weather.
Storm events near Winston-Salem
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Winston-Salem's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Winston-Salem 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 Forsyth County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Winston-Salem along with the rest of the county, not a Winston-Salem-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 35.8 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 94.7 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 88.1 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 80.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 90.9 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 90.3 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 53.6 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 85.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 86.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | 97.8 | Very High |
| Landslide | 71.3 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 86.8 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 85.9 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 91.6 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Forsyth County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Forsyth County:
More on Forsyth County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Winston-Salem, NC at risk of?
Winston-Salem 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 Forsyth County, where Winston-Salem is located, are ice storm, inland flooding, and winter weather.
What is Winston-Salem's biggest natural hazard risk?
Ice Storm is the highest-rated hazard for Forsyth County, where Winston-Salem is located, scoring 97.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Winston-Salem a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Winston-Salem 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 Forsyth County.
Has Winston-Salem had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 7 tornado, 90 hail, 149 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Winston-Salem since 2016.