Lightning Risk in Idaho
All Idaho counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index lightning score
Lightning risk — electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties — is rated for 44 of 44 Idaho counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Ada County carries the state's highest lightning score at 90.1, with $2M in expected annual lightning losses.
4 Idaho counties are rated High or Very High for lightning, and expected annual losses from lightning total roughly $13M 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 | Ada County | High | 19.81 / yr | $2M | |
| 2 | Bonneville County | High | 35.96 / yr | $2M | |
| 3 | Madison County | High | 36.45 / yr | $1M | |
| 4 | Canyon County | High | 17.83 / yr | $1M | |
| 5 | Bannock County | Medium | 33.36 / yr | $870K | |
| 6 | Lemhi County | Medium | 31.11 / yr | $591K | |
| 7 | Bingham County | Medium | 28.27 / yr | $633K | |
| 8 | Cassia County | Medium | 28.38 / yr | $547K | |
| 9 | Teton County | Medium | 41.11 / yr | $611K | |
| 10 | Fremont County | Medium | 37.88 / yr | $616K | |
| 11 | Jefferson County | Low | 30.94 / yr | $381K | |
| 12 | Twin Falls County | Low | 23.79 / yr | $304K | |
| 13 | Blaine County | Low | 26.03 / yr | $308K | |
| 14 | Minidoka County | Low | 21.64 / yr | $256K | |
| 15 | Bonner County | Low | 19.83 / yr | $198K | |
| 16 | Custer County | Low | 28.35 / yr | $115K | |
| 17 | Franklin County | Low | 34.30 / yr | $211K | |
| 18 | Caribou County | Low | 36.76 / yr | $194K | |
| 19 | Idaho County | Low | 23.66 / yr | $98K | |
| 20 | Jerome County | Low | 19.49 / yr | $77K | |
| 21 | Valley County | Low | 24.89 / yr | $102K | |
| 22 | Bear Lake County | Low | 34.38 / yr | $133K | |
| 23 | Kootenai County | Low | 17.94 / yr | $97K | |
| 24 | Elmore County | Very Low | 21.68 / yr | $97K | |
| 25 | Payette County | Very Low | 18.62 / yr | $92K | |
| 26 | Gooding County | Very Low | 20.05 / yr | $73K | |
| 27 | Power County | Very Low | 28.89 / yr | $79K | |
| 28 | Gem County | Very Low | 20.85 / yr | $69K | |
| 29 | Owyhee County | Very Low | 22.57 / yr | $37K | |
| 30 | Boundary County | Very Low | 20.60 / yr | $48K | |
| 31 | Washington County | Very Low | 20.35 / yr | $45K | |
| 32 | Oneida County | Very Low | 33.65 / yr | $63K | |
| 33 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 21.43 / yr | $39K | |
| 34 | Adams County | Very Low | 22.44 / yr | $26K | |
| 35 | Boise County | Very Low | 23.22 / yr | $32K | |
| 36 | Nez Perce County | Very Low | 16.92 / yr | $41K | |
| 37 | Latah County | Very Low | 16.22 / yr | $24K | |
| 38 | Shoshone County | Very Low | 17.29 / yr | $16K | |
| 39 | Butte County | Very Low | 27.23 / yr | $15K | |
| 40 | Clearwater County | Very Low | 18.58 / yr | $10K | |
| 41 | Benewah County | Very Low | 16.78 / yr | $11K | |
| 42 | Clark County | Very Low | 35.87 / yr | $14K | |
| 43 | Lewis County | Very Low | 18.53 / yr | $6K | |
| 44 | Camas County | Very Low | 25.34 / yr | $6K |
44 Idaho counties with measurable lightning risk. See the national lightning ranking or all Idaho counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Idaho county has the highest lightning risk?
Ada County has the highest FEMA lightning risk score in Idaho at 90.1 (High), with $2M in expected annual losses and about 19.81 events per year.
How many Idaho counties face significant lightning risk?
44 Idaho counties record measurable lightning risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 4 of them are rated High or Very High.