Cold Wave Risk in California
All California counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index cold wave score
Cold Wave risk — prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures — is rated for 13 of 58 California counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. San Bernardino County carries the state's highest cold wave score at 28.3, with $392K in expected annual cold wave losses.
No California county reaches the High band for cold wave, and expected annual losses from cold wave total roughly $705K statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Cold Wave
| # | County | Cold Wave Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Bernardino County | Low | 0.01 / yr | $392K | |
| 2 | Riverside County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $139K | |
| 3 | Modoc County | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $56K | |
| 4 | Ventura County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $63K | |
| 5 | Siskiyou County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $26K | |
| 6 | Los Angeles County | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $24K | |
| 7 | Kern County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K | |
| 8 | San Diego County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $521 | |
| 9 | Shasta County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1 | |
| 10 | Lassen County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 | |
| 11 | Mono County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 | |
| 12 | Inyo County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 | |
| 13 | Santa Barbara County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
13 California counties with measurable cold wave risk. See the national cold wave ranking or all California counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which California county has the highest cold wave risk?
San Bernardino County has the highest FEMA cold wave risk score in California at 28.3 (Low), with $392K in expected annual losses and about 0.01 events per year.
How many California counties face significant cold wave risk?
13 California counties record measurable cold wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.