Vermont lightning risk
Chittenden County has the highest lightning risk in Vermont, scoring 82.8 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chittenden County | 82.8 | Relatively High | 4 |
| 2 | Washington County | 71.3 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 3 | Windsor County | 66.1 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 4 | Franklin County | 65.9 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 5 | Rutland County | 65.1 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 6 | Orange County | 64.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 7 | Windham County | 61.1 | Relatively Moderate | 1 |
| 8 | Addison County | 54.2 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 9 | Bennington County | 52.7 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 10 | Orleans County | 47.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 11 | Caledonia County | 46.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 12 | Lamoille County | 39.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 13 | Grand Isle County | 21.1 | Very Low | 2 |
| 14 | Essex County | 10.6 | Very 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 Vermont:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in Vermont?
Chittenden County, VT has the highest lightning risk in Vermont, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.8 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes lightning risk in Vermont?
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.