Lightning Risk in Alaska
All Alaska counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index lightning score
Lightning risk — electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties — is rated for 29 of 30 Alaska counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Fairbanks North Star Borough carries the state's highest lightning score at 60.0, with $452K in expected annual lightning losses.
No Alaska county reaches the High band for lightning, and expected annual losses from lightning total roughly $1M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Lightning
| # | County | Lightning Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks North Star Borough | Medium | 38.58 / yr | $452K | |
| 2 | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Low | 17.98 / yr | $329K | |
| 3 | Anchorage Municipality | Low | 9.39 / yr | $201K | |
| 4 | Bethel Census Area | Low | 21.30 / yr | $59K | |
| 5 | Kenai Peninsula Borough | Very Low | 6.76 / yr | $47K | |
| 6 | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | Very Low | 32.90 / yr | $26K | |
| 7 | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | Very Low | 43.30 / yr | $26K | |
| 8 | Kusilvak Census Area | Very Low | 14.72 / yr | $10K | |
| 9 | Juneau City and Borough | Very Low | 3.88 / yr | $20K | |
| 10 | Northwest Arctic Borough | Very Low | 16.07 / yr | $9K | |
| 11 | Sitka City and Borough | Very Low | 5.02 / yr | $13K | |
| 12 | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Very Low | 7.99 / yr | $16K | |
| 13 | Copper River Census Area | Very Low | 19.73 / yr | $9K | |
| 14 | Nome Census Area | Very Low | 9.58 / yr | $5K | |
| 15 | Dillingham Census Area | Very Low | 16.45 / yr | $4K | |
| 16 | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | Very Low | 3.46 / yr | $4K | |
| 17 | Denali Borough | Very Low | 27.20 / yr | $6K | |
| 18 | Chugach Census Area | Very Low | 4.46 / yr | $6K | |
| 19 | North Slope Borough | Very Low | 16.01 / yr | $3K | |
| 20 | Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | Very Low | 4.21 / yr | $2K | |
| 21 | Lake and Peninsula Borough | Very Low | 8.46 / yr | $1K | |
| 22 | Petersburg Borough | Very Low | 2.61 / yr | $1K | |
| 23 | Skagway Municipality | Very Low | 6.14 / yr | $2K | |
| 24 | Wrangell City and Borough | Very Low | 4.53 / yr | $1K | |
| 25 | Haines Borough | Very Low | 4.40 / yr | $1K | |
| 26 | Kodiak Island Borough | Very Low | 0.84 / yr | $780 | |
| 27 | Bristol Bay Borough | Very Low | 6.65 / yr | $915 | |
| 28 | Aleutians East Borough | Very Low | 0.43 / yr | $379 | |
| 29 | Yakutat City and Borough | Very Low | 6.80 / yr | $29 |
29 Alaska counties with measurable lightning risk. See the national lightning ranking or all Alaska counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Alaska county has the highest lightning risk?
Fairbanks North Star Borough has the highest FEMA lightning risk score in Alaska at 60.0 (Medium), with $452K in expected annual losses and about 38.58 events per year.
How many Alaska counties face significant lightning risk?
29 Alaska counties record measurable lightning risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.