Strong Wind Risk in Massachusetts
All Massachusetts counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index strong wind score
Strong Wind risk — damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes — is rated for 14 of 14 Massachusetts counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Worcester County carries the state's highest strong wind score at 96.8, with $4M in expected annual strong wind losses.
6 Massachusetts counties are rated High or Very High for strong wind, and expected annual losses from strong wind total roughly $22M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Strong Wind
| # | County | Strong Wind Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester County | High | 1.26 / yr | $4M | |
| 2 | Middlesex County | High | 0.97 / yr | $3M | |
| 3 | Plymouth County | High | 0.66 / yr | $3M | |
| 4 | Hampden County | High | 1.80 / yr | $2M | |
| 5 | Essex County | High | 0.75 / yr | $2M | |
| 6 | Bristol County | High | 0.74 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Berkshire County | Medium | 1.84 / yr | $1M | |
| 8 | Hampshire County | Medium | 1.72 / yr | $1M | |
| 9 | Norfolk County | Medium | 0.92 / yr | $1M | |
| 10 | Barnstable County | Medium | 0.29 / yr | $789K | |
| 11 | Franklin County | Medium | 1.45 / yr | $789K | |
| 12 | Suffolk County | Medium | 0.70 / yr | $480K | |
| 13 | Dukes County | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $60K | |
| 14 | Nantucket County | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $17K |
14 Massachusetts counties with measurable strong wind risk. See the national strong wind ranking or all Massachusetts counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Massachusetts county has the highest strong wind risk?
Worcester County has the highest FEMA strong wind risk score in Massachusetts at 96.8 (High), with $4M in expected annual losses and about 1.26 events per year.
How many Massachusetts counties face significant strong wind risk?
14 Massachusetts counties record measurable strong wind risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 6 of them are rated High or Very High.