Massachusetts strong wind risk
Worcester County has the highest strong wind risk in Massachusetts, scoring 96.8 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester County | 96.8 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 2 | Middlesex County | 94.1 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 3 | Plymouth County | 92.6 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 4 | Hampden County | 91.9 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 5 | Essex County | 88.7 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 6 | Bristol County | 86.6 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 7 | Berkshire County | 79.5 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 8 | Hampshire County | 69.1 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 9 | Norfolk County | 66.3 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 10 | Barnstable County | 60.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 11 | Franklin County | 60.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 12 | Suffolk County | 52 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 13 | Dukes County | 7.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Nantucket County | 2 | 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 Massachusetts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest strong wind risk county in Massachusetts?
Worcester County, MA has the highest strong wind risk in Massachusetts, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.8 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes strong wind risk in Massachusetts?
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.