Tornado Risk in Washington
All Washington counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index tornado score
Tornado risk — violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage — is rated for 39 of 39 Washington counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. King County carries the state's highest tornado score at 73.2, with $4M in expected annual tornado losses.
No Washington county reaches the High band for tornado, and expected annual losses from tornado total roughly $11M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Tornado
| # | County | Tornado Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King County | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $4M | |
| 2 | Spokane County | Low | 0.08 / yr | $1M | |
| 3 | Pierce County | Low | 0.07 / yr | $1M | |
| 4 | Snohomish County | Low | 0.05 / yr | $1M | |
| 5 | Clark County | Low | 0.05 / yr | $717K | |
| 6 | Thurston County | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $431K | |
| 7 | Kitsap County | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $429K | |
| 8 | Cowlitz County | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $252K | |
| 9 | Benton County | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $240K | |
| 10 | Yakima County | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $181K | |
| 11 | Lewis County | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $162K | |
| 12 | Grant County | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $120K | |
| 13 | Mason County | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $94K | |
| 14 | Grays Harbor County | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $90K | |
| 15 | Whatcom County | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $127K | |
| 16 | Franklin County | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $105K | |
| 17 | Stevens County | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $86K | |
| 18 | Clallam County | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $71K | |
| 19 | Walla Walla County | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $84K | |
| 20 | Island County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $85K | |
| 21 | Skagit County | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $84K | |
| 22 | Whitman County | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $83K | |
| 23 | Jefferson County | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $41K | |
| 24 | Chelan County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $52K | |
| 25 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $30K | |
| 26 | Kittitas County | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $38K | |
| 27 | Pacific County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $31K | |
| 28 | Adams County | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $34K | |
| 29 | Asotin County | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $27K | |
| 30 | Douglas County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $27K | |
| 31 | Okanogan County | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $20K | |
| 32 | Klickitat County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $23K | |
| 33 | Pend Oreille County | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $25K | |
| 34 | Skamania County | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $29K | |
| 35 | Ferry County | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $9K | |
| 36 | San Juan County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $13K | |
| 37 | Wahkiakum County | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $11K | |
| 38 | Columbia County | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $7K | |
| 39 | Garfield County | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $4K |
39 Washington counties with measurable tornado risk. See the national tornado ranking or all Washington counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Washington county has the highest tornado risk?
King County has the highest FEMA tornado risk score in Washington at 73.2 (Medium), with $4M in expected annual losses and about 0.07 events per year.
How many Washington counties face significant tornado risk?
39 Washington counties record measurable tornado risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.