Severe thunderstorms produce damaging straight-line winds, large hail and dangerous lightning.

How to prepare your home

  • Trim dead branches and remove weak trees near your home.
  • Consider impact-resistant roofing in hail-prone regions.
  • Unplug sensitive electronics or use surge protection during storms.
  • When thunder roars, go indoors — avoid plumbing and corded devices.
  • Document your roof and property yearly to simplify hail damage claims.

Official sources

All states ranked by severe storms risk

Kansas Severe storms are a major natural hazard in Kansas, rated at the highest risk level. From spring through… Very High Nebraska Nebraska faces a very high risk of severe storms, including tornadoes, large hail, and destructive winds,… Very High Oklahoma Oklahoma faces the highest level of severe storm risk in the United States. Tornadoes, large hail, and… Very High Texas Texas has the highest possible severe storm risk, with tornadoes, hail, and destructive winds occurring… Very High Alabama Alabama faces a high risk of severe storms, including tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds. The state… High Arkansas Arkansas faces a high risk of severe storms, including tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds, and flash… High Colorado Severe storms are a significant hazard in Colorado, with the eastern plains and Front Range experiencing… High Florida Florida is rated Level 4 of 5 for severe storm risk, meaning it faces a high threat from thunderstorms, hail,… High Georgia Georgia faces a high risk of severe storms, rated 4 out of 5 for this hazard. Thunderstorms, lightning, hail,… High Illinois Illinois has a Level 4 of 5 risk for severe storms, meaning the state faces a significant threat from… High Indiana Indiana faces a relatively high risk of severe storms, including tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and… High Iowa Iowa faces a high risk of severe storms, including tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds, due to its location… High Kentucky Severe storms are a significant risk in Kentucky, with the state rated level 4 out of 5 for this hazard.… High Louisiana Louisiana faces a high risk of severe thunderstorms, which can bring tornadoes, large hail, damaging… High Minnesota Minnesota faces a high risk of severe thunderstorms, ranking level 4 of 5 for this hazard. These storms… High Mississippi Mississippi faces a high risk of severe storms, including tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, and lightning,… High Missouri Missouri is at a level 4 of 5 risk for severe storms, facing frequent thunderstorms with damaging winds,… High North Carolina North Carolina faces an elevated risk of severe thunderstorms, capable of producing tornadoes, damaging… High Ohio Ohio faces a significant threat from severe storms, including tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, and lightning.… High South Carolina South Carolina is rated 4 out of 5 for severe storm risk due to frequent thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail,… High South Dakota Severe storms are a significant hazard in South Dakota, rated Level 4 out of 5, with the eastern part of the… High Tennessee Tennessee faces a high risk of severe storms, including tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail,… High Wisconsin Wisconsin faces a significant severe storm threat, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, large hail, and… High Arizona Severe storms in Arizona are most common during the late summer monsoon, bringing lightning, strong winds,… Moderate Connecticut Connecticut faces a moderate (Level 3 of 5) risk from severe storms, including thunderstorms, high winds,… Moderate Delaware Delaware faces a moderate (Level 3 of 5) risk of severe storms each year, including thunderstorms, lightning,… Moderate District of Columbia Severe storms in the District of Columbia can bring damaging winds, large hail, lightning, and occasional… Moderate Maryland Severe storms are a significant hazard in Maryland, rated level 3 out of 5 for this risk. These storms can… Moderate Massachusetts Massachusetts faces a moderate (Level 3 of 5) risk from severe storms, including nor'easters, thunderstorms,… Moderate Michigan Michigan faces a moderate to high risk of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and damaging winds, rated level 3… Moderate New Jersey New Jersey faces a moderate risk of severe storms, including damaging winds, hail, lightning, and occasional… Moderate New Mexico Severe storms are a level 3 (moderate) risk in New Mexico, driven primarily by monsoon-season thunderstorms,… Moderate New York Severe thunderstorms are a level 3 risk in New York, meaning the state faces a significant chance of damaging… Moderate North Dakota North Dakota carries a moderate (level 3 of 5) risk of severe storms, including destructive hail, damaging… Moderate Pennsylvania Pennsylvania experiences frequent severe thunderstorms, with the greatest risk from late spring through… Moderate Rhode Island Rhode Island faces a moderate (Level 3 of 5) risk of severe storms, including damaging winds, hail,… Moderate Virginia Virginia faces a moderate risk (level 3 of 5) for severe storms, including thunderstorms, damaging winds,… Moderate West Virginia West Virginia faces a moderate risk (Level 3 of 5) from severe storms, including thunderstorms, hail,… Moderate Wyoming Wyoming faces a moderate (Level 3 of 5) risk from severe storms, including powerful thunderstorms, large… Moderate Alaska Alaska experiences severe storms less frequently than other states, but thunderstorms, high winds, and… Low California California faces a moderate (Level 2 of 5) risk from severe storms, including thunderstorms, lightning, large… Low Hawaii Severe storms in Hawaii are relatively uncommon and typically less intense than on the mainland, but they can… Low Idaho Idaho faces a moderate risk of severe storms, primarily during the spring and summer months. These storms can… Low Maine Maine experiences moderate severe thunderstorm risk, primarily from damaging winds, large hail, and… Low Montana Montana has a moderate (level 2 of 5) severe storm risk, with hail, strong winds, lightning, and localized… Low Nevada Nevada has a relatively low but real risk of severe thunderstorms, rated Level 2 of 5 by FEMA. These storms… Low New Hampshire Severe storms in New Hampshire occur primarily during spring and summer, bringing lightning, damaging winds,… Low Oregon Oregon faces a moderate (level 2 of 5) risk of severe storms, including thunderstorms, strong winds, and… Low Utah Utah faces a moderate (Level 2 of 5) risk of severe storms, including thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds,… Low Vermont Severe storms in Vermont bring damaging winds, hail, lightning, and the possibility of tornadoes, especially… Low Washington Washington experiences fewer severe thunderstorms than many other states, but they do occur, especially east… Low

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