Heat Wave Risk in Washington
All Washington 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 39 of 39 Washington counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. King County carries the state's highest heat wave score at 98.2, with $19M in expected annual heat wave losses.
3 Washington counties are rated High or Very High for heat wave, and expected annual losses from heat wave total roughly $99M 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 | King County | High | 3.81 / yr | $19M | |
| 2 | Pierce County | High | 3.81 / yr | $14M | |
| 3 | Snohomish County | High | 3.36 / yr | $12M | |
| 4 | Clark County | Medium | 6.95 / yr | $10M | |
| 5 | Spokane County | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $7M | |
| 6 | Benton County | Medium | 7.89 / yr | $6M | |
| 7 | Yakima County | Medium | 4.76 / yr | $4M | |
| 8 | Cowlitz County | Medium | 5.00 / yr | $4M | |
| 9 | Thurston County | Medium | 4.26 / yr | $4M | |
| 10 | Kitsap County | Medium | 3.96 / yr | $4M | |
| 11 | Franklin County | Medium | 7.88 / yr | $3M | |
| 12 | Grant County | Medium | 4.73 / yr | $2M | |
| 13 | Walla Walla County | Medium | 7.18 / yr | $2M | |
| 14 | Whatcom County | Medium | 2.41 / yr | $2M | |
| 15 | Lewis County | Low | 3.24 / yr | $1M | |
| 16 | Chelan County | Low | 3.66 / yr | $1M | |
| 17 | Okanogan County | Low | 3.94 / yr | $657K | |
| 18 | Skagit County | Low | 2.39 / yr | $920K | |
| 19 | Mason County | Low | 2.67 / yr | $653K | |
| 20 | Douglas County | Low | 4.44 / yr | $677K | |
| 21 | Kittitas County | Low | 3.62 / yr | $768K | |
| 22 | Stevens County | Low | 3.58 / yr | $540K | |
| 23 | Whitman County | Low | 4.21 / yr | $695K | |
| 24 | Grays Harbor County | Low | 1.98 / yr | $451K | |
| 25 | Asotin County | Low | 3.78 / yr | $356K | |
| 26 | Adams County | Low | 4.57 / yr | $379K | |
| 27 | Pacific County | Low | 2.30 / yr | $244K | |
| 28 | Clallam County | Low | 1.12 / yr | $194K | |
| 29 | Klickitat County | Low | 4.12 / yr | $189K | |
| 30 | Lincoln County | Low | 4.43 / yr | $172K | |
| 31 | Wahkiakum County | Low | 3.07 / yr | $194K | |
| 32 | Skamania County | Very Low | 3.39 / yr | $258K | |
| 33 | Jefferson County | Very Low | 1.40 / yr | $124K | |
| 34 | Pend Oreille County | Very Low | 3.58 / yr | $155K | |
| 35 | Ferry County | Very Low | 3.58 / yr | $88K | |
| 36 | Island County | Very Low | 0.48 / yr | $137K | |
| 37 | Columbia County | Very Low | 4.77 / yr | $92K | |
| 38 | Garfield County | Very Low | 4.19 / yr | $42K | |
| 39 | San Juan County | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $28K |
39 Washington counties with measurable heat wave risk. See the national heat wave ranking or all Washington counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Washington county has the highest heat wave risk?
King County has the highest FEMA heat wave risk score in Washington at 98.2 (High), with $19M in expected annual losses and about 3.81 events per year.
How many Washington counties face significant heat wave risk?
39 Washington counties record measurable heat wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 3 of them are rated High or Very High.