The 25 Cities Facing the Biggest Hurricane Threat for the rest of 2025

By Evan Comen • August 28, 2025

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The 2025 hurricane season has been relatively quiet so far. Several short-lived storms formed in the Atlantic Ocean, with just one – Hurricane Erin – reaching Category 5 status. Despite the slow start, forecasters are still warning of above-average hurricane activity in September and October.

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As of last update, the NOAA is sticking by its midseason outlook. With unusually warm ocean temperatures and a shift away from El Niño conditions, much of the U.S. coastline could see one of the stormiest falls in recent history. Based on historical hurricane activity, many of the cities with the greatest risk are in the Gulf Coast, while the Atlantic Coast also faces above-average risk. A closer look at the data reveals the cities facing the greatest hurricane risk this season.

To determine the cities with the highest hurricane risk, Climate Crisis reviewed data on natural hazard risk for U.S. census tracts from the March 2023 FEMA National Risk Index dataset. Cities were ranked based on the average hurricane risk index score for all census tracts within their borders. Data were aggregated from the census tract level to the city level using spatial boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau’s TIGER/Line program. Supplemental data on the total value of all owner-occupied homes and population are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Data on historical hurricane activity from 1850 to 2024 is from the NOAA. Only places with at least 25,000 residents were considered.

25. Palm City, FL

Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.8%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 242
Total population: 25,957

24. Wright, FL

Photo by Danaisa Rodriguez on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.5%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 187
Total population: 26,272

23. Sebastian, FL

Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.6%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 237
Total population: 25,266

22. Deerfield Beach, FL

Photo by Ken Okum on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $6.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +8.8%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 224
Total population: 86,455

21. Wellington, FL

Photo by Javel Williams on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $9.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.3%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 263
Total population: 61,373

20. Vero Beach South, FL

Photo by Kyle DeSantis on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +24.7%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 247
Total population: 29,965

19. Rockledge, FL

Photo by Suparerg Suksai on Pexels

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.9%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 178
Total population: 27,808

18. Port St. Lucie, FL

Photo by Kaitlin Duffey on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $19.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +17.8%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 277
Total population: 210,520

17. West Melbourne, FL

Photo by Alexey Demidov on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +28.9%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 201
Total population: 26,762

16. Houma, LA

Photo by Ian Wagg on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.0%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 192
Total population: 33,094

15. Melbourne, FL

Photo by Sawyer on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $6.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +6.7%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 222
Total population: 84,982

14. Crestview, FL

Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +18.4%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 211
Total population: 27,427

13. Daphne, AL

Photo by Julio Agreda on Pexels

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.9%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 238
Total population: 27,861

12. Summerville, SC

Photo by Jared Brotman on Pexels

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.5%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 211
Total population: 50,839

11. Jacksonville, NC

Photo by Drew Perales on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.4%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 255
Total population: 71,908

10. Panama City, FL

Photo by Olivia dillon on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.6/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -6.6%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 219
Total population: 34,254

9. Wilmington, NC

Photo by Josh Austin on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.7/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $9.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.5%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 261
Total population: 116,933

8. Mount Pleasant, SC

Photo by John Rutledge on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $19.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.7%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 212
Total population: 90,945

7. Hinesville, GA

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.0 million
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.6%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 215
Total population: 34,732

6. Key West, FL

Photo by Nextvoyage on Pexels

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.0%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 210
Total population: 26,078

5. Fort Pierce, FL

Photo by Nick Nicholson on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +6.6%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 263
Total population: 47,153

4. Hilton Head Island, SC

Photo by Camylla Battani on Unsplash

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $10.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -4.9%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 254
Total population: 37,708

3. New Bern, NC

Photo by Miguel Delima on Pexels

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.8%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 251
Total population: 31,373

2. Bluffton, SC

Photo by Curt Hubner on Pexels

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.5/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +71.1%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 239
Total population: 29,375

1. Parkland, FL

Photo by Esteban Carriazo on Pexels

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $8.1 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +20.5%
No. hurricanes, 1850-2024: 221
Total population: 34,832

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