Avalanche Risk in Idaho
All Idaho counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index avalanche score
Avalanche risk — fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes — is rated for 42 of 44 Idaho counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Blaine County carries the state's highest avalanche score at 96.9, with $6M in expected annual avalanche losses.
12 Idaho counties are rated High or Very High for avalanche, and expected annual losses from avalanche total roughly $37M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Avalanche
| # | County | Avalanche Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blaine County | Very High | 0.50 / yr | $6M | |
| 2 | Custer County | Very High | 0.23 / yr | $3M | |
| 3 | Shoshone County | Very High | 0.17 / yr | $4M | |
| 4 | Bonner County | High | 0.23 / yr | $3M | |
| 5 | Bonneville County | High | 0.27 / yr | $4M | |
| 6 | Camas County | High | 0.10 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Teton County | High | 0.17 / yr | $2M | |
| 8 | Elmore County | High | 0.17 / yr | $2M | |
| 9 | Fremont County | High | 0.20 / yr | $2M | |
| 10 | Boise County | High | 0.10 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Idaho County | High | 0.03 / yr | $913K | |
| 12 | Adams County | High | 0.07 / yr | $913K | |
| 13 | Bear Lake County | Medium | 0.10 / yr | $1M | |
| 14 | Valley County | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $913K | |
| 15 | Clearwater County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 16 | Boundary County | Medium | 0.10 / yr | $487K | |
| 17 | Butte County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 18 | Caribou County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $502K | |
| 19 | Clark County | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $468K | |
| 20 | Madison County | Low | 0.03 / yr | $11K | |
| 21 | Washington County | Low | 0.03 / yr | $8K | |
| 22 | Owyhee County | Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K | |
| 23 | Nez Perce County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K | |
| 24 | Lewis County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K | |
| 25 | Lemhi County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K | |
| 26 | Latah County | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $2K | |
| 27 | Cassia County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K | |
| 28 | Twin Falls County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $865 | |
| 29 | Kootenai County | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $838 | |
| 30 | Gem County | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $540 | |
| 31 | Benewah County | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $418 | |
| 32 | Jerome County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $120 | |
| 33 | Ada County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $132 | |
| 34 | Franklin County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $90 | |
| 35 | Bannock County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $64 | |
| 36 | Bingham County | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $41 | |
| 37 | Power County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $31 | |
| 38 | Oneida County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $36 | |
| 39 | Gooding County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $12 | |
| 40 | Payette County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $6 | |
| 41 | Canyon County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3 | |
| 42 | Jefferson County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 |
42 Idaho counties with measurable avalanche risk. See the national avalanche ranking or all Idaho counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Idaho county has the highest avalanche risk?
Blaine County has the highest FEMA avalanche risk score in Idaho at 96.9 (Very High), with $6M in expected annual losses and about 0.50 events per year.
How many Idaho counties face significant avalanche risk?
42 Idaho counties record measurable avalanche risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 12 of them are rated High or Very High.