Maryland lightning risk
Prince George's County has the highest lightning risk in Maryland, scoring 98.8 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded lightning events across Maryland have increased 47% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince George's County | 98.8 | Very High | 0 |
| 2 | Baltimore County | 98 | Very High | 3 |
| 3 | Anne Arundel County | 93.9 | Relatively High | 2 |
| 4 | Baltimore | 92.1 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 5 | Montgomery County | 91.6 | Relatively High | 9 |
| 6 | Howard County | 84.1 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 7 | Frederick County | 82.2 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 8 | Harford County | 80.8 | Relatively Moderate | 3 |
| 9 | Carroll County | 77.9 | Relatively Moderate | 1 |
| 10 | Charles County | 74 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 11 | Washington County | 70.6 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 12 | Wicomico County | 70.1 | Relatively Moderate | 1 |
| 13 | Kent County | 66 | Relatively Moderate | 1 |
| 14 | Talbot County | 64 | Relatively Moderate | 6 |
| 15 | Cecil County | 60.9 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 16 | Calvert County | 59.7 | Relatively Moderate | 1 |
| 17 | St. Mary's County | 56.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 18 | Allegany County | 53.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 19 | Caroline County | 43.2 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 20 | Garrett County | 39.6 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 21 | Queen Anne's County | 39.5 | Relatively Low | 3 |
| 22 | Worcester County | 39.5 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 23 | Dorchester County | 37 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 24 | Somerset County | 22.7 | Very Low | 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 Maryland:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in Maryland?
Prince George's County, MD has the highest lightning risk in Maryland, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.8 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in Maryland are rated Very High for lightning risk?
2 of 24 scored Maryland counties are rated "Very High" for lightning risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes lightning risk in Maryland?
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.