Lightning Risk in Colorado
All Colorado counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index lightning score
Lightning risk — electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties — is rated for 64 of 64 Colorado counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Jefferson County carries the state's highest lightning score at 99.7, with $11M in expected annual lightning losses.
24 Colorado counties are rated High or Very High for lightning, and expected annual losses from lightning total roughly $85M 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 | Jefferson County | Very High | 57.73 / yr | $11M | |
| 2 | Douglas County | Very High | 58.57 / yr | $8M | |
| 3 | Larimer County | Very High | 56.90 / yr | $7M | |
| 4 | Boulder County | Very High | 54.13 / yr | $6M | |
| 5 | Pueblo County | Very High | 50.71 / yr | $4M | |
| 6 | El Paso County | Very High | 59.33 / yr | $6M | |
| 7 | Denver County | Very High | 52.24 / yr | $4M | |
| 8 | Arapahoe County | Very High | 51.51 / yr | $4M | |
| 9 | Mesa County | Very High | 51.87 / yr | $3M | |
| 10 | Adams County | Very High | 49.94 / yr | $3M | |
| 11 | Fremont County | High | 65.35 / yr | $2M | |
| 12 | Otero County | High | 44.96 / yr | $981K | |
| 13 | Weld County | High | 51.16 / yr | $2M | |
| 14 | Eagle County | High | 55.89 / yr | $2M | |
| 15 | Montrose County | High | 53.30 / yr | $1M | |
| 16 | Montezuma County | High | 57.91 / yr | $817K | |
| 17 | Chaffee County | High | 58.29 / yr | $1M | |
| 18 | Broomfield County | High | 47.19 / yr | $2M | |
| 19 | Prowers County | High | 45.10 / yr | $639K | |
| 20 | La Plata County | High | 65.36 / yr | $1M | |
| 21 | Rio Grande County | High | 54.48 / yr | $532K | |
| 22 | Teller County | High | 68.75 / yr | $1M | |
| 23 | Delta County | High | 58.35 / yr | $712K | |
| 24 | Garfield County | High | 55.83 / yr | $986K | |
| 25 | Grand County | Medium | 59.56 / yr | $983K | |
| 26 | Rio Blanco County | Medium | 51.30 / yr | $737K | |
| 27 | Summit County | Medium | 59.95 / yr | $1M | |
| 28 | Custer County | Medium | 60.96 / yr | $1M | |
| 29 | Dolores County | Medium | 58.00 / yr | $540K | |
| 30 | Saguache County | Medium | 59.49 / yr | $540K | |
| 31 | Park County | Medium | 65.66 / yr | $641K | |
| 32 | Clear Creek County | Medium | 63.98 / yr | $639K | |
| 33 | Las Animas County | Medium | 54.75 / yr | $381K | |
| 34 | Pitkin County | Medium | 53.89 / yr | $639K | |
| 35 | Routt County | Medium | 55.06 / yr | $634K | |
| 36 | Alamosa County | Medium | 57.71 / yr | $263K | |
| 37 | Huerfano County | Medium | 56.81 / yr | $247K | |
| 38 | Gunnison County | Medium | 54.72 / yr | $542K | |
| 39 | Ouray County | Medium | 54.30 / yr | $486K | |
| 40 | Mineral County | Medium | 62.24 / yr | $490K | |
| 41 | Archuleta County | Medium | 71.13 / yr | $256K | |
| 42 | Baca County | Medium | 46.31 / yr | $185K | |
| 43 | San Miguel County | Low | 56.76 / yr | $408K | |
| 44 | Logan County | Low | 47.47 / yr | $249K | |
| 45 | Crowley County | Low | 46.29 / yr | $146K | |
| 46 | Elbert County | Low | 53.49 / yr | $254K | |
| 47 | Gilpin County | Low | 62.71 / yr | $225K | |
| 48 | Conejos County | Low | 54.99 / yr | $104K | |
| 49 | Lake County | Low | 55.09 / yr | $204K | |
| 50 | San Juan County | Low | 55.22 / yr | $196K | |
| 51 | Costilla County | Low | 62.94 / yr | $68K | |
| 52 | Bent County | Low | 44.38 / yr | $141K | |
| 53 | Moffat County | Low | 45.37 / yr | $141K | |
| 54 | Morgan County | Low | 48.85 / yr | $122K | |
| 55 | Yuma County | Low | 44.70 / yr | $122K | |
| 56 | Sedgwick County | Low | 44.98 / yr | $87K | |
| 57 | Kit Carson County | Very Low | 46.74 / yr | $82K | |
| 58 | Phillips County | Very Low | 44.75 / yr | $95K | |
| 59 | Hinsdale County | Very Low | 57.59 / yr | $90K | |
| 60 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 50.10 / yr | $67K | |
| 61 | Jackson County | Very Low | 54.28 / yr | $45K | |
| 62 | Kiowa County | Very Low | 45.63 / yr | $36K | |
| 63 | Washington County | Very Low | 48.06 / yr | $23K | |
| 64 | Cheyenne County | Very Low | 46.96 / yr | $28K |
64 Colorado counties with measurable lightning risk. See the national lightning ranking or all Colorado counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Colorado county has the highest lightning risk?
Jefferson County has the highest FEMA lightning risk score in Colorado at 99.7 (Very High), with $11M in expected annual losses and about 57.73 events per year.
How many Colorado counties face significant lightning risk?
64 Colorado counties record measurable lightning risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 24 of them are rated High or Very High.