New Jersey lightning risk
Monmouth County has the highest lightning risk in New Jersey, scoring 98.5 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded lightning events across New Jersey have decreased 42% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monmouth County | 98.5 | Very High | 1 |
| 2 | Ocean County | 97.9 | Very High | 12 |
| 3 | Passaic County | 97.8 | Very High | 1 |
| 4 | Union County | 96.7 | Very High | 6 |
| 5 | Bergen County | 96.4 | Relatively High | 13 |
| 6 | Camden County | 96.4 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 7 | Burlington County | 94.5 | Relatively High | 6 |
| 8 | Mercer County | 93.5 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 9 | Essex County | 92.3 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 10 | Atlantic County | 92 | Relatively High | 2 |
| 11 | Morris County | 90.6 | Relatively High | 7 |
| 12 | Somerset County | 83.4 | Relatively High | 3 |
| 13 | Gloucester County | 83.3 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 14 | Middlesex County | 81.9 | Relatively Moderate | 3 |
| 15 | Cumberland County | 79 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 16 | Hudson County | 76.9 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 17 | Warren County | 72.7 | Relatively Moderate | 3 |
| 18 | Cape May County | 70.1 | Relatively Moderate | 4 |
| 19 | Sussex County | 66.7 | Relatively Moderate | 2 |
| 20 | Hunterdon County | 65.8 | Relatively Moderate | 4 |
| 21 | Salem County | 45.5 | 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 New Jersey:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in New Jersey?
Monmouth County, NJ has the highest lightning risk in New Jersey, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.5 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in New Jersey are rated Very High for lightning risk?
4 of 21 scored New Jersey counties are rated "Very High" for lightning risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes lightning risk in New Jersey?
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.