Cold Wave Risk in Washington
All Washington counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index cold wave score
Cold Wave risk — prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures — is rated for 37 of 39 Washington counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Yakima County carries the state's highest cold wave score at 98.2, with $18M in expected annual cold wave losses.
5 Washington counties are rated High or Very High for cold wave, and expected annual losses from cold wave total roughly $117M 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 | Yakima County | High | 0.36 / yr | $18M | |
| 2 | Spokane County | High | 1.11 / yr | $20M | |
| 3 | Clark County | High | 0.26 / yr | $20M | |
| 4 | Pierce County | High | 0.03 / yr | $10M | |
| 5 | Grant County | High | 1.07 / yr | $5M | |
| 6 | Whatcom County | Medium | 0.14 / yr | $6M | |
| 7 | Okanogan County | Medium | 0.74 / yr | $3M | |
| 8 | Douglas County | Medium | 1.20 / yr | $4M | |
| 9 | Benton County | Medium | 0.42 / yr | $5M | |
| 10 | Lincoln County | Medium | 1.29 / yr | $3M | |
| 11 | Cowlitz County | Medium | 0.27 / yr | $3M | |
| 12 | Whitman County | Medium | 0.79 / yr | $2M | |
| 13 | Stevens County | Medium | 1.05 / yr | $2M | |
| 14 | Chelan County | Medium | 0.10 / yr | $2M | |
| 15 | Franklin County | Medium | 0.42 / yr | $2M | |
| 16 | Kittitas County | Low | 0.25 / yr | $2M | |
| 17 | Adams County | Low | 1.27 / yr | $2M | |
| 18 | Snohomish County | Low | 0.04 / yr | $2M | |
| 19 | Skamania County | Low | 0.53 / yr | $2M | |
| 20 | Walla Walla County | Low | 0.39 / yr | $971K | |
| 21 | Klickitat County | Low | 0.41 / yr | $739K | |
| 22 | Island County | Low | 0.16 / yr | $889K | |
| 23 | Ferry County | Low | 0.79 / yr | $482K | |
| 24 | Pend Oreille County | Low | 1.05 / yr | $750K | |
| 25 | Skagit County | Low | 0.02 / yr | $701K | |
| 26 | Clallam County | Low | 0.06 / yr | $470K | |
| 27 | San Juan County | Low | 0.52 / yr | $398K | |
| 28 | King County | Low | 0.05 / yr | $449K | |
| 29 | Jefferson County | Low | 0.03 / yr | $220K | |
| 30 | Asotin County | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $149K | |
| 31 | Columbia County | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $138K | |
| 32 | Pacific County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $118K | |
| 33 | Wahkiakum County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $29K | |
| 34 | Garfield County | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $40K | |
| 35 | Lewis County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $149 | |
| 36 | Thurston County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $21 | |
| 37 | Grays Harbor County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1 |
37 Washington counties with measurable cold wave risk. See the national cold wave ranking or all Washington counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Washington county has the highest cold wave risk?
Yakima County has the highest FEMA cold wave risk score in Washington at 98.2 (High), with $18M in expected annual losses and about 0.36 events per year.
How many Washington counties face significant cold wave risk?
37 Washington counties record measurable cold wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 5 of them are rated High or Very High.