District of Columbia lightning risk
District of Columbia has the highest lightning risk in District of Columbia, scoring 96.6 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 96.6 | Very High | 3 |
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 District of Columbia:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia, DC has the highest lightning risk in District of Columbia, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.6 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in District of Columbia are rated Very High for lightning risk?
1 of 1 scored District of Columbia county is rated "Very High" for lightning risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes lightning risk in District of Columbia?
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.