Lightning Risk in Utah
All Utah 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 29 Utah counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Washington County carries the state's highest lightning score at 99.2, with $6M in expected annual lightning losses.
12 Utah counties are rated High or Very High for lightning, and expected annual losses from lightning total roughly $39M 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 | Washington County | Very High | 41.36 / yr | $6M | |
| 2 | Utah County | Very High | 43.63 / yr | $7M | |
| 3 | Davis County | Very High | 33.73 / yr | $5M | |
| 4 | Weber County | High | 32.79 / yr | $3M | |
| 5 | Salt Lake County | High | 39.39 / yr | $3M | |
| 6 | Summit County | High | 43.10 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Garfield County | High | 45.25 / yr | $1M | |
| 8 | Emery County | High | 46.39 / yr | $1M | |
| 9 | Grand County | High | 48.27 / yr | $1M | |
| 10 | Cache County | High | 32.61 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Iron County | High | 41.52 / yr | $1M | |
| 12 | Duchesne County | High | 48.91 / yr | $1M | |
| 13 | San Juan County | Medium | 46.57 / yr | $428K | |
| 14 | Sanpete County | Medium | 46.37 / yr | $726K | |
| 15 | Tooele County | Medium | 30.11 / yr | $1M | |
| 16 | Daggett County | Medium | 45.70 / yr | $539K | |
| 17 | Kane County | Medium | 42.65 / yr | $607K | |
| 18 | Carbon County | Medium | 51.72 / yr | $541K | |
| 19 | Sevier County | Medium | 45.11 / yr | $657K | |
| 20 | Wasatch County | Medium | 46.49 / yr | $769K | |
| 21 | Box Elder County | Medium | 30.65 / yr | $595K | |
| 22 | Uintah County | Medium | 44.90 / yr | $429K | |
| 23 | Beaver County | Low | 39.09 / yr | $196K | |
| 24 | Wayne County | Low | 41.34 / yr | $145K | |
| 25 | Millard County | Low | 33.76 / yr | $136K | |
| 26 | Juab County | Low | 36.05 / yr | $169K | |
| 27 | Piute County | Low | 45.42 / yr | $87K | |
| 28 | Morgan County | Very Low | 35.45 / yr | $157K | |
| 29 | Rich County | Very Low | 34.19 / yr | $33K |
29 Utah counties with measurable lightning risk. See the national lightning ranking or all Utah counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Utah county has the highest lightning risk?
Washington County has the highest FEMA lightning risk score in Utah at 99.2 (Very High), with $6M in expected annual losses and about 41.36 events per year.
How many Utah counties face significant lightning risk?
29 Utah counties record measurable lightning risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 12 of them are rated High or Very High.