Vermont strong wind risk
Chittenden County has the highest strong wind risk in Vermont, scoring 59.4 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chittenden County | 59.4 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 2 | Rutland County | 53.3 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 3 | Windsor County | 35.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 4 | Addison County | 31.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 5 | Franklin County | 30 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Orange County | 24.9 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Washington County | 23.6 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 8 | Windham County | 23.5 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 9 | Caledonia County | 23.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 10 | Orleans County | 22.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 11 | Bennington County | 18.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 12 | Lamoille County | 18.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 13 | Grand Isle County | 11.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Essex County | 4.6 | 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.
Strong Wind risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Vermont:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest strong wind risk county in Vermont?
Chittenden County, VT has the highest strong wind risk in Vermont, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 59.4 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes strong wind risk in Vermont?
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.