Cold Wave Risk in New Mexico
All New Mexico counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index cold wave score
Cold Wave risk — prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures — is rated for 33 of 33 New Mexico counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. McKinley County carries the state's highest cold wave score at 87.6, with $3M in expected annual cold wave losses.
No New Mexico county reaches the High band for cold wave, and expected annual losses from cold wave total roughly $21M 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 | McKinley County | Medium | 0.05 / yr | $3M | |
| 2 | San Juan County | Medium | 0.05 / yr | $3M | |
| 3 | Doña Ana County | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $3M | |
| 4 | Lea County | Medium | 0.77 / yr | $2M | |
| 5 | Cibola County | Low | 0.05 / yr | $996K | |
| 6 | Bernalillo County | Low | 0.07 / yr | $1M | |
| 7 | Eddy County | Low | 0.49 / yr | $983K | |
| 8 | Santa Fe County | Low | 0.13 / yr | $734K | |
| 9 | Luna County | Low | 0.10 / yr | $513K | |
| 10 | Curry County | Low | 0.47 / yr | $706K | |
| 11 | Taos County | Low | 0.17 / yr | $413K | |
| 12 | Chaves County | Low | 0.16 / yr | $380K | |
| 13 | San Miguel County | Low | 0.37 / yr | $317K | |
| 14 | Sierra County | Low | 0.08 / yr | $281K | |
| 15 | Rio Arriba County | Low | 0.05 / yr | $265K | |
| 16 | Roosevelt County | Low | 0.42 / yr | $309K | |
| 17 | Colfax County | Low | 0.39 / yr | $220K | |
| 18 | Otero County | Low | 0.19 / yr | $256K | |
| 19 | Sandoval County | Low | 0.06 / yr | $262K | |
| 20 | Quay County | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $172K | |
| 21 | Socorro County | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $143K | |
| 22 | Union County | Very Low | 0.69 / yr | $142K | |
| 23 | Catron County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $103K | |
| 24 | Valencia County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $130K | |
| 25 | Torrance County | Very Low | 0.23 / yr | $90K | |
| 26 | Guadalupe County | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $71K | |
| 27 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $69K | |
| 28 | Hidalgo County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $66K | |
| 29 | Mora County | Very Low | 0.40 / yr | $37K | |
| 30 | De Baca County | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $31K | |
| 31 | Los Alamos County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $74K | |
| 32 | Harding County | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $15K | |
| 33 | Grant County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
33 New Mexico counties with measurable cold wave risk. See the national cold wave ranking or all New Mexico counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which New Mexico county has the highest cold wave risk?
McKinley County has the highest FEMA cold wave risk score in New Mexico at 87.6 (Medium), with $3M in expected annual losses and about 0.05 events per year.
How many New Mexico counties face significant cold wave risk?
33 New Mexico counties record measurable cold wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.