Massachusetts hail risk
Hampden County has the highest hail risk in Massachusetts, scoring 83.3 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded hail events across Massachusetts have decreased 44% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampden County | 83.3 | Relatively Moderate | 50 |
| 2 | Worcester County | 78.3 | Relatively Moderate | 40 |
| 3 | Suffolk County | 76.9 | Relatively Moderate | 4 |
| 4 | Barnstable County | 69 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 5 | Berkshire County | 52.7 | Relatively Low | 9 |
| 6 | Hampshire County | 50.5 | Relatively Low | 37 |
| 7 | Franklin County | 43.8 | Relatively Low | 21 |
| 8 | Middlesex County | 23.6 | Very Low | 23 |
| 9 | Essex County | 14.9 | Very Low | 16 |
| 10 | Norfolk County | 10.2 | Very Low | 9 |
| 11 | Bristol County | 7.2 | Very Low | 19 |
| 12 | Plymouth County | 7.1 | Very Low | 22 |
| 13 | Nantucket County | 4 | Very Low | 1 |
| 14 | Dukes County | 1.1 | Very Low | 1 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Hail risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Massachusetts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest hail risk county in Massachusetts?
Hampden County, MA has the highest hail risk in Massachusetts, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 83.3 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes hail risk in Massachusetts?
Hail risk reflects expected annual losses from damaging hailstones to structures, vehicles, and crops. High scores cluster in the central plains and Front Range — a corridor sometimes called "Hail Alley" — where large-diameter hail is most frequent. Hail causes over $10 billion in US property damage in active years, much of it to roofs, vehicles, and crops.