Cold Wave Risk in North Dakota
All North Dakota counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index cold wave score
Cold Wave risk — prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures — is rated for 53 of 53 North Dakota counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Sioux County carries the state's highest cold wave score at 97.6, with $10M in expected annual cold wave losses.
5 North Dakota counties are rated High or Very High for cold wave, and expected annual losses from cold wave total roughly $189M 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 | Sioux County | High | 12.95 / yr | $10M | |
| 2 | Burleigh County | High | 17.11 / yr | $20M | |
| 3 | Ward County | High | 21.47 / yr | $18M | |
| 4 | McIntosh County | High | 16.21 / yr | $5M | |
| 5 | Williams County | High | 18.68 / yr | $11M | |
| 6 | Rolette County | Medium | 22.79 / yr | $4M | |
| 7 | Stutsman County | Medium | 18.89 / yr | $7M | |
| 8 | Cass County | Medium | 18.58 / yr | $10M | |
| 9 | Barnes County | Medium | 19.58 / yr | $4M | |
| 10 | McLean County | Medium | 18.89 / yr | $6M | |
| 11 | Richland County | Medium | 16.63 / yr | $5M | |
| 12 | Emmons County | Medium | 14.95 / yr | $4M | |
| 13 | Golden Valley County | Medium | 12.11 / yr | $4M | |
| 14 | Stark County | Medium | 12.79 / yr | $5M | |
| 15 | Benson County | Medium | 23.00 / yr | $3M | |
| 16 | Morton County | Medium | 14.32 / yr | $6M | |
| 17 | McKenzie County | Medium | 14.63 / yr | $5M | |
| 18 | Mountrail County | Medium | 20.74 / yr | $3M | |
| 19 | Dickey County | Medium | 17.00 / yr | $3M | |
| 20 | Grant County | Medium | 13.16 / yr | $2M | |
| 21 | Bottineau County | Medium | 22.63 / yr | $3M | |
| 22 | Logan County | Medium | 16.42 / yr | $2M | |
| 23 | Ramsey County | Medium | 23.53 / yr | $3M | |
| 24 | Grand Forks County | Medium | 21.74 / yr | $3M | |
| 25 | Wells County | Medium | 20.63 / yr | $2M | |
| 26 | LaMoure County | Medium | 17.21 / yr | $3M | |
| 27 | Cavalier County | Medium | 24.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 28 | Pembina County | Medium | 22.74 / yr | $2M | |
| 29 | Ransom County | Medium | 17.11 / yr | $2M | |
| 30 | Walsh County | Medium | 22.84 / yr | $2M | |
| 31 | Mercer County | Medium | 15.21 / yr | $2M | |
| 32 | McHenry County | Low | 22.16 / yr | $2M | |
| 33 | Foster County | Low | 20.21 / yr | $2M | |
| 34 | Sargent County | Low | 16.63 / yr | $2M | |
| 35 | Pierce County | Low | 22.42 / yr | $2M | |
| 36 | Nelson County | Low | 22.84 / yr | $908K | |
| 37 | Towner County | Low | 23.58 / yr | $2M | |
| 38 | Adams County | Low | 11.68 / yr | $906K | |
| 39 | Hettinger County | Low | 12.26 / yr | $972K | |
| 40 | Divide County | Low | 19.26 / yr | $914K | |
| 41 | Bowman County | Low | 11.47 / yr | $1M | |
| 42 | Kidder County | Low | 17.89 / yr | $1M | |
| 43 | Dunn County | Low | 14.32 / yr | $991K | |
| 44 | Griggs County | Low | 21.16 / yr | $1M | |
| 45 | Traill County | Low | 20.64 / yr | $2M | |
| 46 | Renville County | Low | 22.11 / yr | $1M | |
| 47 | Steele County | Low | 21.21 / yr | $969K | |
| 48 | Sheridan County | Low | 19.95 / yr | $1M | |
| 49 | Eddy County | Low | 22.32 / yr | $1M | |
| 50 | Burke County | Low | 21.74 / yr | $1M | |
| 51 | Slope County | Low | 11.47 / yr | $597K | |
| 52 | Oliver County | Low | 14.74 / yr | $508K | |
| 53 | Billings County | Very Low | 12.32 / yr | $233K |
53 North Dakota counties with measurable cold wave risk. See the national cold wave ranking or all North Dakota counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which North Dakota county has the highest cold wave risk?
Sioux County has the highest FEMA cold wave risk score in North Dakota at 97.6 (High), with $10M in expected annual losses and about 12.95 events per year.
How many North Dakota counties face significant cold wave risk?
53 North Dakota counties record measurable cold wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 5 of them are rated High or Very High.