Cold Wave Risk in South Carolina
All South Carolina counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index cold wave score
Cold Wave risk — prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures — is rated for 46 of 46 South Carolina counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Oconee County carries the state's highest cold wave score at 98.5, with $20M in expected annual cold wave losses.
7 South Carolina counties are rated High or Very High for cold wave, and expected annual losses from cold wave total roughly $152M 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 | Oconee County | High | 0.42 / yr | $20M | |
| 2 | Anderson County | High | 0.21 / yr | $13M | |
| 3 | Greenville County | High | 0.38 / yr | $15M | |
| 4 | Laurens County | High | 0.21 / yr | $8M | |
| 5 | Spartanburg County | High | 0.26 / yr | $10M | |
| 6 | Marion County | High | 0.47 / yr | $5M | |
| 7 | Greenwood County | High | 0.21 / yr | $7M | |
| 8 | Horry County | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $5M | |
| 9 | Charleston County | Medium | 0.79 / yr | $7M | |
| 10 | Lancaster County | Medium | 0.37 / yr | $6M | |
| 11 | York County | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $6M | |
| 12 | Pickens County | Medium | 0.34 / yr | $4M | |
| 13 | Richland County | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $4M | |
| 14 | Cherokee County | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $3M | |
| 15 | Abbeville County | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $3M | |
| 16 | Union County | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $2M | |
| 17 | Berkeley County | Medium | 0.81 / yr | $4M | |
| 18 | Lexington County | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $4M | |
| 19 | Orangeburg County | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $2M | |
| 20 | Beaufort County | Medium | 0.63 / yr | $2M | |
| 21 | Aiken County | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $2M | |
| 22 | Sumter County | Medium | 0.32 / yr | $2M | |
| 23 | Darlington County | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $2M | |
| 24 | Florence County | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $2M | |
| 25 | Dorchester County | Medium | 0.69 / yr | $2M | |
| 26 | Chester County | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $1M | |
| 27 | Williamsburg County | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $1M | |
| 28 | Newberry County | Low | 0.26 / yr | $1M | |
| 29 | Dillon County | Low | 0.47 / yr | $1M | |
| 30 | Kershaw County | Low | 0.37 / yr | $1M | |
| 31 | Marlboro County | Low | 0.47 / yr | $772K | |
| 32 | Chesterfield County | Low | 0.42 / yr | $893K | |
| 33 | Colleton County | Low | 0.68 / yr | $657K | |
| 34 | Georgetown County | Low | 0.47 / yr | $692K | |
| 35 | Lee County | Low | 0.42 / yr | $516K | |
| 36 | Clarendon County | Low | 0.32 / yr | $491K | |
| 37 | Saluda County | Low | 0.21 / yr | $419K | |
| 38 | Hampton County | Low | 0.63 / yr | $311K | |
| 39 | Fairfield County | Low | 0.32 / yr | $329K | |
| 40 | Barnwell County | Low | 0.21 / yr | $284K | |
| 41 | Jasper County | Low | 0.54 / yr | $322K | |
| 42 | McCormick County | Low | 0.21 / yr | $263K | |
| 43 | Edgefield County | Low | 0.21 / yr | $306K | |
| 44 | Calhoun County | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $207K | |
| 45 | Allendale County | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $158K | |
| 46 | Bamberg County | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $93K |
46 South Carolina counties with measurable cold wave risk. See the national cold wave ranking or all South Carolina counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina county has the highest cold wave risk?
Oconee County has the highest FEMA cold wave risk score in South Carolina at 98.5 (High), with $20M in expected annual losses and about 0.42 events per year.
How many South Carolina counties face significant cold wave risk?
46 South Carolina counties record measurable cold wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 7 of them are rated High or Very High.