Riskiest Counties for Lightning

Ranked by FEMA National Risk Index lightning hazard score · code LTNG

Lightning risk reflects electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties. FEMA's National Risk Index scores each county's lightning hazard from its expected annual loss, annualized event frequency, and exposed population. Broward County, Florida currently leads the nation with a lightning score of 100.0 and $12M in expected annual loss. Florida, Texas, Colorado account for much of the highest-rated lightning risk in this dataset.

Read the full lightning risk guide — how FEMA scores it and how to prepare →

County Rankings

#CountyStateLightning ScoreRatingAnn. Freq.Ann. Loss
1Broward CountyFL
100.0
Very High 99.35 / yr$12M
2Honolulu CountyHI
100.0
Very High 76.82 / yr$13M
3Harris CountyTX
99.9
Very High 74.62 / yr$9M
4Miami-Dade CountyFL
99.9
Very High 97.70 / yr$8M
5El Paso CountyTX
99.9
Very High 49.36 / yr$7M
6Palm Beach CountyFL
99.8
Very High 96.31 / yr$9M
7Lee CountyFL
99.8
Very High 101.95 / yr$8M
8Pinellas CountyFL
99.8
Very High 94.42 / yr$9M
9Hillsborough CountyFL
99.7
Very High 97.58 / yr$8M
10Jefferson CountyTX
99.7
Very High 78.84 / yr$6M
11Montgomery CountyTX
99.7
Very High 69.94 / yr$9M
12Jefferson CountyCO
99.7
Very High 57.73 / yr$11M
13Sarasota CountyFL
99.6
Very High 96.18 / yr$5M
14Polk CountyFL
99.6
Very High 95.66 / yr$6M
15Coconino CountyAZ
99.6
Very High 44.38 / yr$5M
16Orange CountyFL
99.5
Very High 88.08 / yr$6M
17Jefferson CountyAL
99.5
Very High 68.97 / yr$5M
18Navajo CountyAZ
99.5
Very High 47.60 / yr$3M
19Collier CountyFL
99.4
Very High 104.56 / yr$4M
20Brevard CountyFL
99.4
Very High 73.00 / yr$6M
21Fort Bend CountyTX
99.4
Very High 74.29 / yr$7M
22St. Louis CountyMO
99.3
Very High 52.97 / yr$5M
23Volusia CountyFL
99.3
Very High 74.86 / yr$5M
24Douglas CountyCO
99.3
Very High 58.57 / yr$8M
25Calcasieu ParishLA
99.2
Very High 80.82 / yr$4M

Showing the top 25 seeded counties for lightning risk.

Lightning Risk by State

DelawareNew JerseyCaliforniaConnecticutArizonaMassachusettsFloridaHawaiiSouth CarolinaWashingtonNew HampshireNew YorkPennsylvaniaNorth CarolinaOregonLouisianaAlabamaMarylandWisconsinNew MexicoMaineRhode IslandOklahomaArkansasOhioIllinoisTennesseeMississippiMissouriMichiganWest VirginiaTexasNevadaIndianaKentuckyMinnesotaColoradoIowaGeorgiaIdahoWyomingVermontUtahAlaskaVirginiaMontanaKansasSouth DakotaNebraskaNorth Dakota