Lightning Risk in Washington
All Washington counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index lightning score
Lightning risk — electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties — is rated for 39 of 39 Washington counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Pierce County carries the state's highest lightning score at 89.9, with $1M in expected annual lightning losses.
3 Washington counties are rated High or Very High for lightning, and expected annual losses from lightning total roughly $10M 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 | Pierce County | High | 9.31 / yr | $1M | |
| 2 | Snohomish County | High | 8.63 / yr | $1M | |
| 3 | Chelan County | High | 9.93 / yr | $841K | |
| 4 | Clark County | Medium | 8.06 / yr | $970K | |
| 5 | King County | Medium | 9.87 / yr | $750K | |
| 6 | Yakima County | Medium | 7.64 / yr | $366K | |
| 7 | Okanogan County | Medium | 15.78 / yr | $253K | |
| 8 | Benton County | Medium | 7.44 / yr | $400K | |
| 9 | Whatcom County | Medium | 8.14 / yr | $421K | |
| 10 | Spokane County | Medium | 16.22 / yr | $353K | |
| 11 | Klickitat County | Low | 7.67 / yr | $228K | |
| 12 | Kitsap County | Low | 7.61 / yr | $363K | |
| 13 | Douglas County | Low | 11.49 / yr | $222K | |
| 14 | Skagit County | Low | 7.26 / yr | $250K | |
| 15 | Grant County | Low | 9.24 / yr | $184K | |
| 16 | Franklin County | Low | 8.13 / yr | $202K | |
| 17 | Kittitas County | Low | 8.78 / yr | $155K | |
| 18 | Lewis County | Low | 6.58 / yr | $103K | |
| 19 | Thurston County | Low | 6.73 / yr | $129K | |
| 20 | Walla Walla County | Low | 10.48 / yr | $101K | |
| 21 | Island County | Low | 4.83 / yr | $88K | |
| 22 | Cowlitz County | Very Low | 6.13 / yr | $80K | |
| 23 | Mason County | Very Low | 5.15 / yr | $54K | |
| 24 | Pend Oreille County | Very Low | 22.28 / yr | $51K | |
| 25 | Grays Harbor County | Very Low | 5.13 / yr | $39K | |
| 26 | Clallam County | Very Low | 3.16 / yr | $35K | |
| 27 | Ferry County | Very Low | 19.71 / yr | $21K | |
| 28 | Stevens County | Very Low | 20.59 / yr | $29K | |
| 29 | Asotin County | Very Low | 16.68 / yr | $23K | |
| 30 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 12.68 / yr | $19K | |
| 31 | Whitman County | Very Low | 12.98 / yr | $27K | |
| 32 | Adams County | Very Low | 9.52 / yr | $19K | |
| 33 | Jefferson County | Very Low | 3.99 / yr | $14K | |
| 34 | San Juan County | Very Low | 4.28 / yr | $15K | |
| 35 | Pacific County | Very Low | 5.03 / yr | $12K | |
| 36 | Skamania County | Very Low | 6.37 / yr | $17K | |
| 37 | Columbia County | Very Low | 13.44 / yr | $5K | |
| 38 | Wahkiakum County | Very Low | 5.16 / yr | $2K | |
| 39 | Garfield County | Very Low | 14.34 / yr | $2K |
39 Washington counties with measurable lightning risk. See the national lightning ranking or all Washington counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Washington county has the highest lightning risk?
Pierce County has the highest FEMA lightning risk score in Washington at 89.9 (High), with $1M in expected annual losses and about 9.31 events per year.
How many Washington counties face significant lightning risk?
39 Washington counties record measurable lightning risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 3 of them are rated High or Very High.