Massachusetts lightning risk
Suffolk County has the highest lightning risk in Massachusetts, scoring 97.8 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded lightning events across Massachusetts have decreased 33% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suffolk County | 97.8 | Very High | 1 |
| 2 | Middlesex County | 96.3 | Relatively High | 12 |
| 3 | Essex County | 95 | Relatively High | 10 |
| 4 | Worcester County | 93.8 | Relatively High | 19 |
| 5 | Plymouth County | 90.6 | Relatively High | 10 |
| 6 | Barnstable County | 86.7 | Relatively High | 12 |
| 7 | Norfolk County | 85.5 | Relatively High | 13 |
| 8 | Bristol County | 75.8 | Relatively Moderate | 14 |
| 9 | Hampden County | 71.7 | Relatively Moderate | 6 |
| 10 | Berkshire County | 68.5 | Relatively Moderate | 3 |
| 11 | Hampshire County | 68.3 | Relatively Moderate | 12 |
| 12 | Franklin County | 62.3 | Relatively Moderate | 9 |
| 13 | Dukes County | 12.8 | Very Low | 2 |
| 14 | Nantucket County | 6.1 | 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 Massachusetts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in Massachusetts?
Suffolk County, MA has the highest lightning risk in Massachusetts, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.8 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in Massachusetts are rated Very High for lightning risk?
1 of 14 scored Massachusetts counties are rated "Very High" for lightning risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes lightning risk in Massachusetts?
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.