Heat Wave Risk in Kentucky
All Kentucky counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index heat wave score
Heat Wave risk — prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure — is rated for 120 of 120 Kentucky counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Jefferson County carries the state's highest heat wave score at 96.9, with $8M in expected annual heat wave losses.
2 Kentucky counties are rated High or Very High for heat wave, and expected annual losses from heat wave total roughly $68M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Heat Wave
| # | County | Heat Wave Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | High | 5.63 / yr | $8M | |
| 2 | Boyd County | High | 4.53 / yr | $7M | |
| 3 | McCracken County | Medium | 10.63 / yr | $6M | |
| 4 | Daviess County | Medium | 8.16 / yr | $3M | |
| 5 | Greenup County | Medium | 4.32 / yr | $2M | |
| 6 | Fayette County | Medium | 2.74 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Carter County | Medium | 4.11 / yr | $2M | |
| 8 | Warren County | Medium | 6.11 / yr | $2M | |
| 9 | Kenton County | Medium | 6.68 / yr | $2M | |
| 10 | Laurel County | Medium | 2.63 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Lawrence County | Low | 4.16 / yr | $1M | |
| 12 | Christian County | Low | 8.47 / yr | $1M | |
| 13 | Graves County | Low | 10.42 / yr | $881K | |
| 14 | Hopkins County | Low | 8.53 / yr | $953K | |
| 15 | Henderson County | Low | 8.21 / yr | $984K | |
| 16 | Calloway County | Low | 9.84 / yr | $893K | |
| 17 | Muhlenberg County | Low | 8.32 / yr | $880K | |
| 18 | Hardin County | Low | 5.47 / yr | $1M | |
| 19 | Marshall County | Low | 9.84 / yr | $932K | |
| 20 | Campbell County | Low | 6.68 / yr | $1M | |
| 21 | Pike County | Low | 2.58 / yr | $565K | |
| 22 | Pulaski County | Low | 2.95 / yr | $615K | |
| 23 | Whitley County | Low | 2.58 / yr | $587K | |
| 24 | Barren County | Low | 5.11 / yr | $461K | |
| 25 | Madison County | Low | 2.53 / yr | $658K | |
| 26 | Union County | Low | 8.79 / yr | $466K | |
| 27 | Johnson County | Low | 2.47 / yr | $407K | |
| 28 | Lewis County | Low | 5.79 / yr | $409K | |
| 29 | Floyd County | Low | 2.58 / yr | $376K | |
| 30 | Ohio County | Low | 6.32 / yr | $415K | |
| 31 | Knox County | Low | 2.58 / yr | $288K | |
| 32 | Grayson County | Low | 5.95 / yr | $368K | |
| 33 | Boone County | Low | 6.68 / yr | $671K | |
| 34 | Logan County | Low | 6.00 / yr | $420K | |
| 35 | Caldwell County | Low | 8.84 / yr | $320K | |
| 36 | Bullitt County | Low | 5.42 / yr | $610K | |
| 37 | Trigg County | Low | 8.84 / yr | $271K | |
| 38 | Rowan County | Low | 2.74 / yr | $334K | |
| 39 | Fulton County | Low | 10.89 / yr | $256K | |
| 40 | Ballard County | Low | 10.95 / yr | $342K | |
| 41 | Mason County | Low | 5.84 / yr | $305K | |
| 42 | Livingston County | Low | 9.53 / yr | $314K | |
| 43 | Scott County | Low | 2.74 / yr | $408K | |
| 44 | Martin County | Low | 2.42 / yr | $198K | |
| 45 | Meade County | Low | 5.74 / yr | $361K | |
| 46 | Crittenden County | Low | 9.11 / yr | $264K | |
| 47 | Clay County | Low | 2.63 / yr | $200K | |
| 48 | Breckinridge County | Low | 5.89 / yr | $313K | |
| 49 | Webster County | Low | 8.58 / yr | $305K | |
| 50 | Lyon County | Low | 9.05 / yr | $226K | |
| 51 | Elliott County | Low | 2.58 / yr | $185K | |
| 52 | Shelby County | Low | 4.42 / yr | $283K | |
| 53 | McLean County | Low | 8.26 / yr | $219K | |
| 54 | Nelson County | Low | 4.58 / yr | $315K | |
| 55 | McCreary County | Low | 2.74 / yr | $160K | |
| 56 | Clark County | Low | 2.53 / yr | $310K | |
| 57 | Grant County | Low | 6.47 / yr | $288K | |
| 58 | Bell County | Low | 2.53 / yr | $182K | |
| 59 | Montgomery County | Low | 2.79 / yr | $243K | |
| 60 | Wayne County | Low | 2.95 / yr | $159K | |
| 61 | Jessamine County | Low | 2.74 / yr | $350K | |
| 62 | Perry County | Low | 2.58 / yr | $202K | |
| 63 | Hart County | Low | 5.11 / yr | $179K | |
| 64 | Allen County | Low | 5.26 / yr | $195K | |
| 65 | Hickman County | Low | 10.84 / yr | $170K | |
| 66 | Todd County | Low | 8.47 / yr | $244K | |
| 67 | Franklin County | Low | 3.32 / yr | $244K | |
| 68 | Rockcastle County | Low | 2.84 / yr | $155K | |
| 69 | Carlisle County | Low | 10.84 / yr | $201K | |
| 70 | Harlan County | Low | 2.42 / yr | $159K | |
| 71 | Fleming County | Low | 2.79 / yr | $146K | |
| 72 | Simpson County | Low | 6.00 / yr | $201K | |
| 73 | Taylor County | Low | 3.16 / yr | $183K | |
| 74 | Butler County | Very Low | 6.16 / yr | $186K | |
| 75 | Morgan County | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $181K | |
| 76 | Bourbon County | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $173K | |
| 77 | Letcher County | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $129K | |
| 78 | Oldham County | Very Low | 4.79 / yr | $299K | |
| 79 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $147K | |
| 80 | Hancock County | Very Low | 6.11 / yr | $150K | |
| 81 | Russell County | Very Low | 2.74 / yr | $125K | |
| 82 | Pendleton County | Very Low | 6.47 / yr | $170K | |
| 83 | Breathitt County | Very Low | 2.63 / yr | $109K | |
| 84 | Estill County | Very Low | 2.84 / yr | $119K | |
| 85 | Magoffin County | Very Low | 2.47 / yr | $122K | |
| 86 | Adair County | Very Low | 2.95 / yr | $128K | |
| 87 | Boyle County | Very Low | 2.89 / yr | $166K | |
| 88 | Jackson County | Very Low | 2.79 / yr | $127K | |
| 89 | Knott County | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $108K | |
| 90 | Bath County | Very Low | 2.79 / yr | $136K | |
| 91 | Powell County | Very Low | 2.79 / yr | $101K | |
| 92 | Monroe County | Very Low | 3.89 / yr | $97K | |
| 93 | Harrison County | Very Low | 2.74 / yr | $133K | |
| 94 | Metcalfe County | Very Low | 3.68 / yr | $86K | |
| 95 | Garrard County | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $88K | |
| 96 | Casey County | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $86K | |
| 97 | Woodford County | Very Low | 2.84 / yr | $129K | |
| 98 | Edmonson County | Very Low | 6.00 / yr | $132K | |
| 99 | Marion County | Very Low | 3.21 / yr | $109K | |
| 100 | Mercer County | Very Low | 2.89 / yr | $103K | |
| 101 | Leslie County | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $76K | |
| 102 | Green County | Very Low | 3.58 / yr | $77K | |
| 103 | Anderson County | Very Low | 3.21 / yr | $126K | |
| 104 | Larue County | Very Low | 4.68 / yr | $117K | |
| 105 | Owen County | Very Low | 6.47 / yr | $100K | |
| 106 | Wolfe County | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $52K | |
| 107 | Clinton County | Very Low | 2.79 / yr | $60K | |
| 108 | Bracken County | Very Low | 6.00 / yr | $90K | |
| 109 | Nicholas County | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $54K | |
| 110 | Carroll County | Very Low | 6.37 / yr | $65K | |
| 111 | Cumberland County | Very Low | 3.05 / yr | $44K | |
| 112 | Lee County | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $55K | |
| 113 | Spencer County | Very Low | 4.47 / yr | $116K | |
| 114 | Robertson County | Very Low | 6.05 / yr | $47K | |
| 115 | Henry County | Very Low | 4.37 / yr | $67K | |
| 116 | Menifee County | Very Low | 2.68 / yr | $63K | |
| 117 | Washington County | Very Low | 3.21 / yr | $65K | |
| 118 | Trimble County | Very Low | 4.58 / yr | $42K | |
| 119 | Gallatin County | Very Low | 6.47 / yr | $48K | |
| 120 | Owsley County | Very Low | 2.63 / yr | $34K |
120 Kentucky counties with measurable heat wave risk. See the national heat wave ranking or all Kentucky counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kentucky county has the highest heat wave risk?
Jefferson County has the highest FEMA heat wave risk score in Kentucky at 96.9 (High), with $8M in expected annual losses and about 5.63 events per year.
How many Kentucky counties face significant heat wave risk?
120 Kentucky counties record measurable heat wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 2 of them are rated High or Very High.