Maine lightning risk
Penobscot County has the highest lightning risk in Maine, scoring 91 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penobscot County | 91 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 2 | Kennebec County | 87.3 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 3 | Piscataquis County | 85.9 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 4 | Somerset County | 85.9 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 5 | Cumberland County | 85 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 6 | Hancock County | 81.6 | Relatively Moderate | 2 |
| 7 | Franklin County | 71.9 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 8 | York County | 70.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 9 | Androscoggin County | 69.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 10 | Washington County | 67.4 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 11 | Waldo County | 66.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 12 | Oxford County | 65.9 | Relatively Moderate | 1 |
| 13 | Lincoln County | 58.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 14 | Aroostook County | 52.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 15 | Knox County | 49.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 16 | Sagadahoc County | 37.8 | Relatively 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 Maine:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in Maine?
Penobscot County, ME has the highest lightning risk in Maine, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 91 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes lightning risk in Maine?
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.