Nevada strong wind risk
Washoe County has the highest strong wind risk in Nevada, scoring 71 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washoe County | 71 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 2 | Clark County | 66.5 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 3 | Nye County | 44.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 4 | Lyon County | 25.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 5 | Douglas County | 22.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Carson City | 19.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Elko County | 18.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 8 | Churchill County | 10.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 9 | Mineral County | 6.7 | Very Low | 0 |
| 10 | Storey County | 3.5 | Very Low | 0 |
| 11 | Lincoln County | 3.1 | Very Low | 0 |
| 12 | Humboldt County | 2.8 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Lander County | 2.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | White Pine County | 2.3 | Very Low | 1 |
| 15 | Pershing County | 1.9 | Very Low | 0 |
| 16 | Esmeralda County | 1.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 17 | Eureka County | 1.3 | 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 Nevada:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest strong wind risk county in Nevada?
Washoe County, NV has the highest strong wind risk in Nevada, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 71 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes strong wind risk in Nevada?
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.