Arizona strong wind risk
Maricopa County has the highest strong wind risk in Arizona, scoring 99.1 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maricopa County | 99.1 | Very High | 0 |
| 2 | Pima County | 82.6 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 3 | Pinal County | 75.3 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 4 | Mohave County | 71.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 5 | Cochise County | 69.5 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 6 | Yuma County | 61.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 7 | Gila County | 41.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 8 | Yavapai County | 41.5 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 9 | Navajo County | 40.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 10 | Santa Cruz County | 28.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 11 | La Paz County | 19.5 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 12 | Graham County | 15.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Coconino County | 14.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Apache County | 8.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 15 | Greenlee County | 2.4 | 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.
Strong Wind risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Arizona:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest strong wind risk county in Arizona?
Maricopa County, AZ has the highest strong wind risk in Arizona, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.1 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in Arizona are rated Very High for strong wind risk?
1 of 15 scored Arizona counties are rated "Very High" for strong wind risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes strong wind risk in Arizona?
Strong wind risk covers non-convective, non-tropical sustained high winds — including derechos and general high-wind events, but excluding tornado and hurricane winds. High scores appear in mountain passes, coastal headlands, and open plains where topography amplifies wind speeds. Damage concentrates on utility infrastructure, trees, and lightweight structures.