Arizona lightning risk
Coconino County has the highest lightning risk in Arizona, scoring 99.6 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded lightning events across Arizona have increased 31% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coconino County | 99.6 | Very High | 6 |
| 2 | Navajo County | 99.5 | Very High | 0 |
| 3 | Apache County | 99.1 | Very High | 0 |
| 4 | Yavapai County | 98.9 | Very High | 2 |
| 5 | Mohave County | 98 | Very High | 5 |
| 6 | Pima County | 97.7 | Very High | 27 |
| 7 | Cochise County | 97 | Very High | 2 |
| 8 | Pinal County | 97 | Very High | 3 |
| 9 | Maricopa County | 95.5 | Relatively High | 19 |
| 10 | Gila County | 94.1 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 11 | Graham County | 93.4 | Relatively High | 2 |
| 12 | Santa Cruz County | 88.4 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 13 | Greenlee County | 77.6 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 14 | Yuma County | 43.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 15 | La Paz County | 6.6 | Very Low | 0 |
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.
Lightning risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Arizona:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in Arizona?
Coconino County, AZ has the highest lightning risk in Arizona, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.6 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in Arizona are rated Very High for lightning risk?
8 of 15 scored Arizona counties are rated "Very High" for lightning risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes lightning risk in Arizona?
Lightning risk reflects expected annual losses from cloud-to-ground strikes, which ignite building fires, damage electrical systems, and cause fatalities. Florida consistently leads the US in lightning density. High scores also appear across the Gulf Coast, Southeast, and central Plains, where afternoon convective storms are most frequent in summer months.