Rhode Island lightning risk
Providence County has the highest lightning risk in Rhode Island, scoring 89 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence County | 89 | Relatively High | 6 |
| 2 | Washington County | 65.5 | Relatively Moderate | 3 |
| 3 | Kent County | 65 | Relatively Moderate | 1 |
| 4 | Bristol County | 63.2 | Relatively Moderate | 4 |
| 5 | Newport County | 50 | Relatively Low | 1 |
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 Rhode Island:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in Rhode Island?
Providence County, RI has the highest lightning risk in Rhode Island, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 89 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes lightning risk in Rhode Island?
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.